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Why Zach Wilson was a ‘direct calculated target’ for Miami’s high-profile QB2 role

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Why Zach Wilson was a ‘direct calculated target’ for Miami’s high-profile QB2 role


MIAMI GARDENS — For the past three seasons, backup quarterback for the Miami Dolphins has been a more high-profile job than it is for most teams.

Not just because of the games starter Tua Tagovailoa has missed — 11 combined in 2022 and 2024 — but because of the drastic drop in production from an otherwise explosive offense whenever Tagovailoa is not on the field.

To help mitigate the difference, Miami signed a quarterback it hopes can keep its offense running if Tagovailoa is forced to miss time this season — former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson.

Wilson’s career production has fallen well-short of his draft position. He has passed for 6,293 yards and 23 touchdowns against 25 interceptions in 34 career games with the New York Jets. He was traded to the Denver Broncos and spent the 2024 season as rookie Bo Nix’s backup.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said the team made this move based on the physical traits he has seen from Wilson dating to his time at BYU.

“I think it’s layered. This was something that was on our mind for a considerable amount of time and it goes back to everybody has a different circumstance, but we drafted a quarterback in San Francisco the year he came out,” McDaniel said. “I watched every snap of his collegiate play, and he was a phenomenal talent that in my opinion didn’t have reps in an NFL pocket yet. Like at BYU he was launching it from about 10 and 11 yards deep and you’re not in the phone booth, and so my estimation, there was going to be some nuanced growth to his game that I think it is close to impossible to excel that early in that new form of football that he was playing (in the NFL).”

Tagovailoa missed a career-high six games in 2024 with a concussion and a hip injury. From Week 3 through 7, Miami’s offense ranked 31st in expected points added, dead last in quarterback rating and scoring, and 29th in yards per game. The Dolphins’ offense didn’t take off upon Tagovailoa’s return but was a far more efficient seventh in EPA and ninth in scoring during his healthiest stretch from Week 8 to Week 16. Tagovailoa ranked ninth in the NFL in touchdown to interception ratio during that span and led the league in completion percentage.

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier received criticism for not having a better backup plan in place considering Tagovailoa’s injury history, despite the fact he’d played all 18 games in 2023. Former seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson was the primary backup entering the season, having beaten out Mike White for the job during training camp. But Thompson played poorly in his lone start of the season, a 30-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He was knocked out of that game with a rib injury, leaving Tim Boyle and a newly signed Tyler Huntley as Miami’s only viable options at quarterback.

After the season, Grier said the team held an affinity for the homegrown Thompson, who won a playoff-clinching game as a rookie in 2022 and lost a close playoff game to the Buffalo Bills on the road a week later. But he also admitted the Dolphins had tried to address the position last offseason.

“We were in on a number of top-flight backup quarterbacks in the league,” Grier said. “We were runners-up for a couple of them that we wanted to get here, and for some financial restraints and compensatory pick stuff, we just couldn’t go to those, to the prices. But all of those guys wanted to come here.

“It’s a position we do not take lightly. We were working through that the entire offseason, and the fact that some of those guys were willing to come here at what we could pay them shows in how they believe in Mike, the staff and the offensive scheme, and the players that are here.”

The Dolphins own 10 picks in this month’s draft and despite myriad other roster holes, the team is still interested in taking a quarterback if the right opportunity presents itself. Grier said as much.

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“That’s a position we will always focus on, and it will be a position that we will focus on this offseason,” he said.

During the first week of free agency last month, Miami agreed to a one-year deal with Wilson to become its new primary backup — assuming he beats out anyone the team might draft. His salary makes him the fifth highest-paid backup quarterback in the league. Last season, Thompson was the 48th highest-paid non-starting quarterback in the NFL.

When asked what interested him in the job, Wilson didn’t mention the potential to play, but instead focused on Tagovailoa’s development and his admiration for Miami’s offensive coaching staff.

“What’s not to like, right? Extremely explosive offense and I think they do a great job, and it starts from coach McDaniel and goes all the way down,” Wilson said. “I’d just say the offensive staff as a whole has done a great job. You’ve seen how Tua’s development has gone, too, since he’s been there, and I think I’m just excited to be with those guys.”

Wilson said his experience as a backup in 2024 helped him with his processing and pocket awareness, and that his understanding of the game has improved over the past year.

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McDaniel said Wilson was a “direct calculated target” for Miami in free agency, over players with more NFL experience. But one of McDaniel’s mantras is “adversity is opportunity,” and he admires the adversity Wilson has faced in his young NFL career.

“What I see in Zach is the experience of being the second pick in the draft, being the starter Week 1 and then not fulfilling the rookie contract; that is behind him,” McDaniel said. “So to me, that’s an exciting prospect because you can’t put a measurement on that human ability that is huge at the quarterback position. Not comparing the players at all — on the record, not comparing the players — Tua found that this environment helped him through that process. As coaches, we want to offer literally everything to his game and I’m excited about where he’s at based upon him.”



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Wives of detained men allege inhumane conditions at federal detention center in Miami

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Wives of detained men allege inhumane conditions at federal detention center in Miami


Wives of several men being held at the Federal Detention Center in downtown Miami are alleging their husbands are facing inhumane conditions following a transfer from the Krome Detention Center, where detainees were evacuated due to recent wildfires.

The women gathered outside the downtown Miami facility on Wednesday to call for basic humane treatment for their husbands.

The Federal Detention Center is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, not U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While ICE transferred the detainees to the federal facility, the Bureau of Prisons is responsible for conditions inside.

Among those speaking out was Judith Castellanos, whose husband, 51-year-old Marlon Cervelo, has been in immigration detention since 2023.

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“He is my husband, my brother, my confidant, my everything,” Castellanos said, adding that she fears for his life.

According to Castellanos, Cervelo was detained following his annual immigration appointment in 2023. Since then, he has been held at multiple facilities, including Alligator Alcatraz, Krome Detention Center and now the Federal Detention Center in downtown Miami.

Castellanos said the detainees are requesting basic necessities.

“They want something similar to what they had in Krome,” Castellanos said, noting the need for clean clothing and reliable access to drinking water.

Arianne Betancourt, an activist with the social justice organization The Workers Circle, echoed the families’ concerns.

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“Nobody should be denied access to water,” Betancourt said during a news conference.

While CBS News Miami was covering the event, Castellanos received a call from her husband inside the facility. Speaking in Spanish, Cervelo claimed conditions remain difficult.

“We still have no air conditioning in the rooms and no medicines,” Cervelo said.

Another spouse says deportation isn’t an option 

Another spouse, Annette Uset, said her husband, Daikel Dumont, is being held in solitary confinement.

“He told me the conditions that he was in, and I went ahead and contacted the news,” Uset said.

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Anisley Cortez said she is concerned for her husband, 41-year-old Noslen Sendra, who suffers from diabetes and acute pancreatitis. She alleged he is not receiving the necessary medication.

The three women said their husbands share similar immigration histories. Each was detained by immigration authorities after serving prison sentences for past criminal convictions. Because Cuba has not accepted their deportation, they have remained in federal custody.

CBS News Miami requested a response from the Federal Bureau of Prisons regarding the allegations.

In a statement, the agency acknowledged the facility experienced water pressure problems on July 1, but said inmates were provided additional bottled water while repairs were underway. Officials said the issue was resolved the following day.

The Bureau of Prisons also confirmed that one of the facility’s air-conditioning chillers malfunctioned on July 6, but stated the problem has been repaired and both chillers are operating normally.

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Despite those assurances, the families said they will continue to speak out until they see meaningful improvements in the treatment of their loved ones.

When asked if she would follow her husband to Cuba if deportation were an option, Castellanos replied, “I would follow him.”

According to the families, however, immigration officials have encouraged their husbands to self-deport to a third country, an option all three men have declined.



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Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza is coming to Miami, led by legendary pizzaiolo chef Bun

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Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza is coming to Miami, led by legendary pizzaiolo chef Bun


If you’re a diehard pizza fanatic in Miami, you’ll soon be able to check another renowned style off your list without leaving home. Arriving in October 2026, Royale Pizza Napoletana will debut at 1680 Meridian Avenue, introducing South Florida to the exceptionally precise world of Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza. This highly anticipated opening marks the monumental stateside arrival of legendary Japanese pizzaiolo Chef Bun, the mastermind behind Tokyo’s genre-defining concept, Savoy.

RECOMMENDED: Where to find the best pizza in Miami

The restaurant is the brainchild of banking entrepreneur and restaurateur Jess Varughese, the innovator behind Miami’s ultra-exclusive, members-only hotspot, Haiku. After experiencing Chef Bun’s “perfect pizzas” during a trip to Japan, Varughese envisioned bringing this science-driven culinary movement to sunny South Florida. To ensure absolute authenticity, Varughese assembled an elite culinary team. Alongside Chef Bun, the kitchen features Haiku Executive Chef Albert Diaz and Chef Dalila Sabatino, a rising pizzaiola talent praised by Bun who previously trained at Los Angeles’ acclaimed Pizzeria Sei.

Photograph: Courtesy Royale Pizza NapoletanaRoyale Pizza Napoletana

What sets Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza apart is its rigorous, chemistry-like execution. At Royale, the dough undergoes a meticulous 30+ hour fermentation process. Varughese and his team spent hundreds of hours adjusting the recipe, combining artisan flours with the Autolyse technique and even altering Miami’s water softness to match Japan’s famously soft water. Pizzas are then baked fresh in an 800-degree oven. The resulting crust achieves an ethereal balance of lightness, chewiness, char and crunch. As Varughese notes, having Chef Bun’s 20-plus years of innovation on board elevates the entire culinary game.

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Royale will be fast-casual, yet polished, with seating for 65 guests including a large community table at its center. Staying true to an accessible vibe, the restaurant will operate on a first-come, first-served walk-in basis with no reservations, though takeout and delivery will be available. You’ll order at a main counter from a carefully curated menu featuring antipasti, two pastas, two mains and seven distinct pizzas—including four traditional options and three specials. This is a pizza spot that deserves the hype, so stay up to date on their progress at @royalenapoletana ahead of the official October launch.





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Girl, 12, shot while sitting in parked car in northwest Miami-Dade, deputies say

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Girl, 12, shot while sitting in parked car in northwest Miami-Dade, deputies say


MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A 12-year-old girl was shot in the arm after gunfire erupted in a northwest Miami-Dade neighborhood early Tuesday morning, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies said they responded just before 1 a.m. to the area of Northwest 64th Street and Northwest 21st Avenue in the county’s Gladeview area, where they found three vehicles struck by gunfire, including a silver Hyundai.

“The car was parked outside of the residence. It was occupied by three juveniles, so it was the girl and her two siblings that were in the vehicle. The mom was outside of the vehicle at the time, so this could have been a very different outcome,” MDSO Detective Samantha Choon said.

Authorities said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue medics transported the girl to a nearby hospital in stable condition.

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A family member of the victim told Local 10’s Jackie Pascale that the girl is now home and doing OK.

They said neither her siblings nor their mother was injured in the shooting.

According to investigators, no arrests have been made, and detectives have not released any suspect information at this time.

Neighbor Marie Grimes said she was shaken after hearing multiple gunshots.

“I heard the booms — boom, boom, boom, boom — and I said, ‘Oh my God, what’s happening?’” she said. “Maybe five or six, ’cause look at that right there. I’m just glad the little girl is OK.”

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Investigators asked neighbors to check their surveillance or Ring camera footage from around 1 a.m. and contact authorities with any information.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477. Anonymous tips are accepted.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.





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