Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had an efficient start to the preseason Sunday and the Miami Dolphins and the Bears finished in a 24-24 tie in Ben Johnson's Chicago coaching debut.

Playing in a preseason opener for the first time since 2021, Tagovailoa completed 5 of 6 for 27 yards in a 15-play drive against Bears backups, but the Dolphins failed to score on their first drive because of a Bears goal-line stand.

Running back Jaylen Wright was stuffed by Bears linebacker Noah Sewell on fourth-and-goal from the 1. He later scored on a 7-yard run late in the first half.

Miami backup quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers directed three touchdown drives and Jason Sanders made a 56-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

Sanders' kick with 6:22 remaining tied the game at 24 and the Dolphins defense turned back a late Bears scoring drive at the Miami 41.

Ewers, who went 5 of 18 for 91 yards, completed a 21-yard pass to Alexander Mattison on an eight-play, 41-yard drive in the fourth quarter, leading to a 1-yard TD score by rookie running back Ollie Gordon with 11:48 remaining for a 21-17 Miami lead.

Wilson replaced Tagovailoa after the goal-line stand and completed 5 of 9 for 96 yards. He hit a 35-yard pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and set up the Dolphins' first score, then a 34-yard completion to Tahj Washington to set up the second TD.

Wilson, signed as a free agent after three seasons with the Jets and one in Denver, is looking to revive a career that started when he was the second overall pick of the 2021 draft.

Ben Johnson's debut

Johnson, the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year as Detroit's offensive coordinator last season, decided to sit quarterback Caleb Williams and all the other starters except left tackle Braxton Jones. Jones is in a starting competition with rookie Ozzy Trapilo.

Johnson is attempting to help turn around a franchise with a long history of poor quarterback play and struggling offense. However, it was his team's defense that stood out in his first preseason game as they sacked Miami's Wilson and Ewers six times, including three by defensive end Austin Booker. One was a strip-sack at the 3-yard line to set up Case Keenum's third-quarter TD pass to rookie Deion Hankins for a 17-14 Chicago lead.

But Johnson made it clear to the guys that were out there that this was not a meaningless game.

"Really, what stuck out to me, you know, the game doesn't count, but the game matters, and so I thought that was a good way to put it," said Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent, who had 13 completed passes out of 19 pass attempts, and one touchdown pass. "It's of extreme importance to a lot of people to go out there, execute, play within our rules, don't try to do anything that we haven't done."

"I think those guys, they did a phenomenal job going out there," said Johnson. "The effort was there. The intensity was there."

Booker, a second-year defensive lineman, was the star of the game for the Bears. He had three sacks and a forced fumble as he looks to make himself a bigger part of this d-line rotation.

"I'm just going to take what's given to me, and just keep going out there whenever I can, and doing as much as I can, play as hard as I can," he said.

"I think he was a factor the entire game. I think he ended up with what, three sacks there, and just a menace," Johnson added of Booker.

The main starting battle to watch in this game was at left tackle, where Jones played most of the first half, and second-round draft pick Ozzy Trapilo played four series after that.

For Jones, it was his first game action since suffering a serious ankle injury late last season.

"It's going like this — obviously, there's some days, and I'm learning from those days, and learning from my ankle as well, but like I said, it's all upward trending for sure," Jones said.

"It felt good. You know, it was exciting to be out there — preseason game — you know, it's always fun to play games. So had a good time," said Trapilo. "You know, there's plays you're going to always want back, but a lot of good tape to learn from."

Top pick Colston Loveland didn't play a lot, but he and second-round pick Luther Burden were just excited about their preseason debuts.

"Reps are so important, especially like a game rep. You know, nothing can relate to a game rep," said Loveland. "But just being out here is a blessing — to get these opportunities and just keep stacking those reps."

"It was great, man, just being out there, and you know, out there competing against a bunch of guys around the league," said Burden. "Man, I'm in the NFL. It's great, man."

The Bears have another joint practice later this week when they welcome the Buffalo Bills to town. Coach Johnson hasn't confirmed it, but it seems like a good bet we see more of the starters next Sunday night when they host the Bills in the second game of the preseason. 

Kicking game

Bears kicker Cairo Santos has roster competition from former Michigan State kicker Jonathan Kim. However, it was Santos connecting from long distance in this game as he hit a 57-yarder to close the first half and draw the Bears within 14-10.

Santos' career-long in the regular season is 55 yards, made in 2020.

Injuries

Miami running back Alexander Mattison left the game with a knee injury after being tackled on a 21-yard pass play and did not return.

Bears rookie safety Major Burns suffered a knee injury and left the game in the first half. He didn't return. Running back Travis Homer (calf) and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (shoulder) also left the game and did not return.

Up next

Dolphins: Travel to Detroit for two joint practices and a preseason game Aug. 16 game against the Lions.

Bears: Hold a joint practice with Buffalo before hosting the Bills on Sunday.