Between playing college football together at Alabama and being drafted by the Dolphins in back-to-back years, QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Jaylen Waddle have connected on passes for seven seasons.
Waddle's relationship with Tagovailoa has been crucial since taking over the top receiver role following WR Tyreek Hill's injury in Week 4. In two games, Waddle has 12 catches for 205 yards and a touchdown.
"Jaylen (Waddle) is an explosive receiver and Tua (Tagovailoa) likes to get the ball out fast and puts the ball on the spot," CB Tyson Campbell said. "Knowing that they have good chemistry, you try to do your best to disrupt their timing and get your hands on the ball and your hands on the receiver."
Campbell saw the chemistry between Tagovailoa and Waddle develop firsthand while at Georgia. He started against Alabama in 2018 versus Tagovailoa and Waddle and covered the wideout in 2020. Then, last season, Campbell dealt with the duo while on the Jaguars, recording three tackles, including one tackle for a loss.
He will be tasked with helping cover Waddle, alongside CB Denzel Ward, and slowing down his production in Week 7. The first step is watching film on who Waddle is as a receiver. The cornerback duo has had sessions in the film room walking through the tape with cornerbacks coach Brandon Lynch, discussing offensive tendencies.
Ward is looking at how receivers operate while watching film. He said he is focused on executing his assignments, knowing that if he does his job, he will be where the ball is thrown.
"I'm just watching how (Waddle) releases, how he runs routes from week-to-week and getting a good read on him and just going from there," Ward said.
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 6 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Safety Donovan McMillon (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) and Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) and Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Cornerback Tre Avery (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Linebacker Eugene Asante (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Linebacker Eugene Asante (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Safety Christopher Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Linebacker Eugene Asante (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Cornerback Dom Jones (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Assistant Defensive Line Coach Adam Morris during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Linebacker Eugene Asante (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Safety Damontae Kazee (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Cornerback Dee Williams (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Tight end Sal Cannella (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Assistant Defensive Line Coach Adam Morris during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) and Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Defensive lineman Adin Huntington (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Cornerback Tre Avery (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21), Defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse (20) and Safety Christopher Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 15, 2025.
Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2025.
Ward, an eight-year NFL veteran and three-year veteran of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's scheme, also helped Campbell pick up the defense when he arrived mid-week following the trade. According to Campbell, the process started once he settled in at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
"It's been a growing process just picking (Denzel Ward's) brain, learning from him so I can slow the game down and also pick up this defensive scheme," Campbell said.
Part of Cleveland's defensive game plan will be limiting Tagovailoa's arm. Tagovailoa is one of the top quarterbacks at getting the ball to his receivers, completing 69.8 percent of his passes, the ninth-best mark in the NFL. He has combined his accuracy with speed, taking 2.7 seconds to throw the ball, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. The Dolphins signal-caller is one of three quarterbacks in the NFL who are in both the top 10 of completion percentage and average getting the ball out in 2.7 seconds or less.
"It's a really nice marriage of the scheme and his skill set, with how quickly he gets the ball out, how accurate he is when he gets the ball out," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "I think he sees it really clearly. He can get the ball to all areas of the field and get the ball in the hands of the playmakers."
The Browns know that when facing another quick-handed quarterback in Tagovailoa, they must play tight to their man and make Tagovailoa hold onto the ball. With Waddle thriving as Miami's top option and Tagovailoa excelling at delivering the ball on time, Campbell and Ward are aware of the shared responsibility they have in Week 7 to help contain Miami's offense.
"If a guy is getting it out quick, that's just how the game may go sometimes," Ward said. "We just try to stay tight and get them to hold the ball a little longer the best that we can, and those guys up front will get home."
