Previewing the New York Jets’ opposition: Miami Dolphins

The Jets haven’t gained in Miami since 2014 in a recreation Jets followers will bear in mind as The Geno Smith Good Sport Sport. They acquired shut final 12 months, although, as Miami’s late comeback despatched the sport into extra time, with the Dolphins in the end successful 32-26. Miami had a extra comfy win over the Jets within the season finale however each groups enter Monday evening’s conflict winless.

Let’s break down the Dolphins roster, going position-by-position:

Tua Tagovailoa is a 2023 professional bowler who led the NFL in completion proportion final 12 months. Nonetheless, he’s off to a rocky begin in 2025 with 4 interceptions already as his interception proportion is double his profession mark. He’s additionally been sacked eight instances, fumbling twice.

The opposite concern with Tagovailoa has been accidents, which implies we are able to’t rule out Zach Wilson getting an opportunity to make his former teammates lives hell in a a reduction look. Wilson regarded strong in preseason and is 5 for eight with three first downs in common season motion for his new crew.

Seventh spherical rookie Quinn Ewers can be on the roster and has been serving because the quantity three quarterback.

As was the case with the Bucs final week, Miami has been decimated on the offensive line. They’ve seven offensive linemen on injured reserve, together with final 12 months’s beginning proper guard Liam Eichenberg and the opening day proper guard and proper deal with – James Daniels and Austin Jackson – who have been injured in week 1.

This leaves them with a bunch that lacks expertise. Three of the 4 new starters had barely performed earlier than this season with the exception being new proper deal with Larry Borom, who by no means began greater than 9 video games in a season and solely began 4 final 12 months.

Left guard Jonah Savaiinaea is a second spherical rookie and has struggled badly in go safety up to now. The brand new proper guard is Kion Smith, who hadn’t began an NFL recreation earlier than this season and has been struggling within the working recreation. At left deal with, final 12 months’s second spherical choose Patrick Paul, who simply began three video games as a rookie, has been holding up moderately properly however is a downgrade from Terron Armstead, who retired within the offseason.

Middle Aaron Brewer is not less than skilled, as he has began each recreation for 3 straight seasons. He was tied for the crew lead with 9 penalties final season, although, and already has three this 12 months.

Sarcastically, the Dolphins’ bench has a ton of beginning expertise, so they might change issues up if the likes of Smith or Savaiineaea don’t enhance. Cole Unusual, Daniel Brunskill and Kendall Lamm have 139 begins between them. Brunskill already noticed some motion final Thursday evening instead of Smith.

With the offensive line in flux, it’s not shocking that working again De’Von Achane hasn’t acquired off to an awesome begin. He’s averaging lower than 50 speeding yards after having rushed for over 900 and had 12 whole touchdowns final season. Nonetheless, he leads Miami with 18 catches, together with an 8-for-92 efficiency in week 2 towards New England. Achane had 78 receptions final season.

On the bench, sixth spherical rookie Ollie Gordon has been the quantity two, forward of 2024 draft choose Jaylen Wright. Gordon has rushed for 50 yards and a landing.

2023 professional bowl fullback Alec Ingold stays on the roster too. He has three receptions within the first three video games.

Miami’s most harmful playmakers are nonetheless Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, regardless that each noticed their manufacturing dip final season. Hill is now 31 however has a 100-yard recreation two weeks in the past. Waddle had one among his finest video games of final season towards the Jets with 99 yard on 9 catches.

The primary reserve up to now has been Malik Washington, who has six catches but in addition has six carries as he’s a jet sweep choice.

Whereas he solely has three catches up to now this season, offseason addition Nick Westbrook-Ikhine shouldn’t be underestimated after racking up 9 landing catches with the Titans final 12 months.

Dee Eskridge and Tahj Washington are additionally on the roster however Washington has been inactive.

At tight finish, Miami introduced within the freshly unretired Darren Waller however he’s been injured. He returned to apply on a restricted foundation on Thursday.

In Waller’s absence Julian Hill and Tanner Conner each acquired work. Conner had three catches within the first three video games.

Miami has some expertise on their line of defense with Chop Robinson, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips all getting first rate enjoying time on the sting. Robinson had six sacks as a rookie and Phillips leads the crew in whole pressures however Chubb is presently the one participant on the crew with a couple of sack or hit. He has three sacks in three video games.

The inside line of defense is anchored by Zach Sieler, who 10 sacks in every of the previous two seasons, and the 335-pounder Benito Jones.

Veteran Matthew Judon is presently enjoying a rotational function off the bench on the sting, whereas Matthew Butler is joined by three rookies as inside reserves. Kenneth Grant was Miami’s first spherical choose in April, whereas Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers have been picked on day three.

At linebacker, Tyrel Dodson and Jordyn Brooks play a full-time function. Dodson leads the crew with 33 tackles, having led them with three interceptions final 12 months. Brooks was the main tackler in 2024, as he racked up 143 tackles.

KJ Britt, Willie Homosexual and Cameron Goode fill out this place group however their main function is particular groups, as they’ve mixed to play simply 12 defensive snaps.

Phillips can be listed as a linebacker however he performs completely on the sting.

Miami’s defensive backfield took a success in coaching camp when each Artie Burns and Kader Kohou suffered a torn ACL to rule them out for the remainder of the season. Additionally they noticed Jevon Holland stroll in free company and traded away Jalen Ramsey to deliver again security Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick begins at security alongside former Jet Ashtyn Davis with one other ex-Jet Elijah Campbell listed as a backup however primarily used as a particular teamer. Fifth spherical rookie Dante Dealer began towards the Payments in week 3 because the Dolphins opened up in a three-safety look, however he ended up enjoying simply 13 snaps. Ifeatu Melifonwu can be on the roster however he’s been inactive.

At cornerback, starter Storm Duck has been injured to additional weaken an undermanned unit. He’s solely performed one recreation up to now and isn’t again in apply but. Veteran Rasul Douglas was signed on the finish of August to supply some stability. He’s been beginning together with Jack Jones however Miami has not but intercepted a go or pressured a fumble but this season.

Fifth spherical rookie Jason Marshall has been the primary slot cornerback up to now however he’s additionally not been training this week. In his absence, this may very well be someplace Fitzpatrick’s versatility is useful, however Cornell Armstrong has additionally seen a while within the slot.

Ethan Bonner and Juju Brents are additionally out there to supply cornerback depth off the bench.

Miami’s kicker Jason Sanders is presently on injured reserve in order that they’ve been elevating ex-Jet Riley Patterson, who is ideal by three video games, from the apply squad. They might want to signal him to the lively roster for this recreation as a result of they’ve used up his three commonplace elevations. Sanders shall be eligible to return subsequent week.

Punter Jake Bailey is a strong veteran choice with unremarkable profession and season numbers. He’s in his third 12 months in Miami after 4 in New England.

Within the return recreation, Malik Washington is listed as the first return man on each kickoffs and punts. His 45-yard kickoff return after the Jets took a late lead final 12 months arrange Sanders’ area objective to ship the sport to extra time and he has already had a 74-yard punt return landing this 12 months.

Eskridge has truly been getting extra of the work on kickoff returns and he had a 54-yard return already this season. Wright can be listed as a reserve on kickoffs with Hill and Waddle the backups on punts.

In protection, Miami misplaced most of their best tacklers from final 12 months and already gave up a kick return landing to New England. Campbell, a main gunner, and Hill are constant contributors in protection however their main particular groups tackler up to now this season is definitely Fitzpatrick.