The Jets haven’t won in Miami since 2014 in a game Jets fans will remember as The Geno Smith Perfect Game Game. They got close last year, though, as Miami’s late comeback sent the game into overtime, with the Dolphins ultimately winning 32-26. Miami had a more comfortable win over the Jets in the season finale but both teams enter Monday night’s clash winless.
Let’s break down the Dolphins roster, going position-by-position:
Quarterbacks
Tua Tagovailoa is a 2023 pro bowler who led the NFL in completion
percentage last year. However, he’s off to a rocky start in 2025 with four interceptions already as his interception percentage is double his career mark. He’s also been sacked eight times, fumbling twice.
The other concern with Tagovailoa has been injuries, which means we can’t rule out Zach Wilson getting a chance to make his former teammates lives hell in a a relief appearance. Wilson looked solid in preseason and is five for eight with three first downs in regular season action for his new team.
Seventh round rookie Quinn Ewers is also on the roster and has been serving as the number three quarterback.
Offensive Line
As was the case with the Bucs last week, Miami has been decimated on the offensive line. They have seven offensive linemen on injured reserve, including last year’s starting right guard Liam Eichenberg and the opening day right guard and right tackle – James Daniels and Austin Jackson – who were injured in week 1.
This leaves them with a group that lacks experience. Three of the four new starters had barely played before this season with the exception being new right tackle Larry Borom, who never started more than nine games in a season and only started four last year.
Left guard Jonah Savaiinaea is a second round rookie and has struggled badly in pass protection so far. The new right guard is Kion Smith, who hadn’t started an NFL game before this season and has been struggling in the running game. At left tackle, last year’s second round pick Patrick Paul, who just started three games as a rookie, has been holding up reasonably well but is a downgrade from Terron Armstead, who retired in the offseason.
Center Aaron Brewer is at least experienced, as he has started every game for three straight seasons. He was tied for the team lead with nine penalties last season, though, and already has three this year.
Ironically, the Dolphins’ bench has a ton of starting experience, so they could change things up if the likes of Smith or Savaiineaea don’t improve. Cole Strange, Daniel Brunskill and Kendall Lamm have 139 starts between them. Brunskill already saw some action last Thursday night in place of Smith.
Running Backs
With the offensive line in flux, it’s not surprising that running back De’Von Achane hasn’t got off to a great start. He’s averaging less than 50 rushing yards after having rushed for over 900 and had 12 total touchdowns last season. However, he leads Miami with 18 catches, including an 8-for-92 performance in week 2 against New England. Achane had 78 receptions last season.
On the bench, sixth round rookie Ollie Gordon has been the number two, ahead of 2024 draft pick Jaylen Wright. Gordon has rushed for 50 yards and a touchdown.
2023 pro bowl fullback Alec Ingold remains on the roster too. He has three receptions in the first three games.
Pass catchers
Miami’s most dangerous playmakers are still Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, even though both saw their production dip last season. Hill is now 31 but has a 100-yard game two weeks ago. Waddle had one of his best games of last season against the Jets with 99 yard on nine catches.
The main reserve so far has been Malik Washington, who has six catches but also has six carries as he is a jet sweep option.
While he only has three catches so far this season, offseason addition Nick Westbrook-Ikhine shouldn’t be underestimated after racking up nine touchdown catches with the Titans last year.
Dee Eskridge and Tahj Washington are also on the roster but Washington has been inactive.
At tight end, Miami brought in the freshly unretired Darren Waller but he’s been injured. He returned to practice on a limited basis on Thursday.
In Waller’s absence Julian Hill and Tanner Conner both got work. Conner had three catches in the first three games.
Defensive Line
Miami has some talent on their defensive line with Chop Robinson, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips all getting decent playing time on the edge. Robinson had six sacks as a rookie and Phillips leads the team in total pressures but Chubb is currently the only player on the team with more than one sack or hit. He has three sacks in three games.
The interior defensive line is anchored by Zach Sieler, who 10 sacks in each of the past two seasons, and the 335-pounder Benito Jones.
Veteran Matthew Judon is currently playing a rotational role off the bench on the edge, while Matthew Butler is joined by three rookies as interior reserves. Kenneth Grant was Miami’s first round pick in April, while Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers were picked on day three.
Linebackers
At linebacker, Tyrel Dodson and Jordyn Brooks play a full-time role. Dodson leads the team with 33 tackles, having led them with three interceptions last year. Brooks was the leading tackler in 2024, as he racked up 143 tackles.
KJ Britt, Willie Gay and Cameron Goode fill out this position group but their primary role is special teams, as they’ve combined to play just 12 defensive snaps.
Phillips is also listed as a linebacker but he plays exclusively on the edge.
Defensive Backs
Miami’s defensive backfield took a hit in training camp when both Artie Burns and Kader Kohou suffered a torn ACL to rule them out for the rest of the season. They also saw Jevon Holland walk in free agency and traded away Jalen Ramsey to bring back safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick starts at safety alongside former Jet Ashtyn Davis with another ex-Jet Elijah Campbell listed as a backup but primarily used as a special teamer. Fifth round rookie Dante Trader started against the Bills in week 3 as the Dolphins opened up in a three-safety look, but he ended up playing just 13 snaps. Ifeatu Melifonwu is also on the roster but he’s been inactive.
At cornerback, starter Storm Duck has been injured to further weaken an undermanned unit. He’s only played one game so far and is not back in practice yet. Veteran Rasul Douglas was signed at the end of August to provide some stability. He’s been starting along with Jack Jones but Miami has not yet intercepted a pass or forced a fumble yet this season.
Fifth round rookie Jason Marshall has been the main slot cornerback so far but he’s also not been practicing this week. In his absence, this could be somewhere Fitzpatrick’s versatility comes in handy, but Cornell Armstrong has also seen some time in the slot.
Ethan Bonner and Juju Brents are also available to provide cornerback depth off the bench.
Special Teams
Miami’s kicker Jason Sanders is currently on injured reserve so they’ve been elevating ex-Jet Riley Patterson, who is perfect through three games, from the practice squad. They will need to sign him to the active roster for this game because they’ve used up his three standard elevations. Sanders will be eligible to return next week.
Punter Jake Bailey is a solid veteran option with unremarkable career and season numbers. He’s in his third year in Miami after four in New England.
In the return game, Malik Washington is listed as the primary return man on both kickoffs and punts. His 45-yard kickoff return after the Jets took a late lead last year set up Sanders’ field goal to send the game to overtime and he has already had a 74-yard punt return touchdown this year.
Eskridge has actually been getting more of the work on kickoff returns and he had a 54-yard return already this season. Wright is also listed as a reserve on kickoffs with Hill and Waddle the backups on punts.
In coverage, Miami lost most of their most productive tacklers from last year and already gave up a kick return touchdown to New England. Campbell, a primary gunner, and Hill are consistent contributors in coverage but their leading special teams tackler so far this season is actually Fitzpatrick.
