Entering Thursday's preseason opener, Josh Rosen occupied the spotlight for the Miami Dolphins. By game's end, Preston Williams had taken center stage.

The Dolphins' quarterback battle between Josh Rosen and Ryan Fitzpatrick is one of the main stories of the NFL preseason. Yet, a quarterback is only as good as his receivers. In Miami's first preseason game, one receiver made a very large splash for the Dolphins.

Preston Williams emerged from obscurity to become Miami's most dynamic offensive player in a 34-27 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Williams made this dazzling one-handed catch of a long ball from Rosen:

That play was spectacular enough, but the performance delivered by Preston Williams is magnified when one realizes that it wasn't his only highlight-reel play on Thursday.

Williams also delivered this gem in traffic, the kind of catch elite NFL receivers make. Williams high-pointed the ball with defenders jumping into his airspace.

Williams outworked the Falcons' secondary and made the kinds of “eff you” catches which not only gain yards, but tell quarterbacks that they don't have to throw perfect balls. Josh Rosen now knows that in a live-game situation, he can throw the ball in the air and reliably trust that Preston Williams will come down with it.

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Dan Marino and Jim Kelly

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GM Chris Grier in the middle, Graham Barton, Ruke Orhorhoro, Beaux Limmer around him, and Miami Dolphins wallpaper in the background

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That is a great source of relief for any quarterback. For Rosen, who is trying to gain a comfort zone as an NFL signal-caller, the presence of a trusted wide receiver could relieve enough pressure to make a defining difference in the course of time.

One very important aspect of the Preston Williams story hasn't even been mentioned yet: He is an undrafted rookie. The Colorado State product — like lots of other undrafted players — just wanted a chance to prove himself in the NFL.

Thursday night's display against the Falcons dramatically improves Preston Williams' chances of making the Dolphins' 53-man roster. If he somehow fails to stick with the Phins, these catches against the Falcons will surely gain the attention of another team.

Josh Rosen's battle with Ryan Fitzpatrick continues… but if Preston Williams and other Miami receivers continue to flourish, the Dolphins and first-year coach Brian Flores won't worry nearly as much about the quality of their passing game.