The Miami Dolphins may finally be getting one of their young playmakers back in the mix.
Caleb Douglas, the Dolphins’ third-round pick out of Texas Tech, is expected to return to the practice field on Monday after missing time with an ankle injury. Douglas has been sidelined since getting hurt in the loss to the San Francisco 49ers, leaving Miami without a receiver who had already flashed early in the season.
His first two games were encouraging. Douglas caught seven passes for 113 yards over that stretch, including a busy opening week against the Las Vegas Raiders, when he logged 51 offensive snaps and drew the second-most targets - seven - among Malik Willis’ weapons.
Jeff Hafley said the rookie is set for a limited practice to start the week, with the team watching how he responds before pushing ahead. "Caleb will be limited today," Hafley told reporters on Monday "We'll see how he looks today and progress to Wednesday, but I think there's optimism there.
Let's see how it goes today, and if he can get ramped up on Wednesday, it'd be good to get him back out there... To see a rookie have to start and start like, it's not ideal, but he's worked really.
It'd be great to get him back."
That would be a welcome boost for a Dolphins offense that has struggled, particularly in the passing game. Getting another receiver who can create separation back onto the field could give that unit a needed lift as Miami heads into its Week 7 division matchup with the New York Jets.
In Other News...
Dolphins Passing Game Puts Malik Willis Under Early AFC East Pressure
The Dolphins returned from their Week 6 off weekend with a familiar checklist waiting for them before Sundays game against the Jets. Miami is still searching for its first win and has yet to play a division game this season, which only adds weight to a Week 7 matchup that already feels important in the bigger AFC East picture. With the roster leaning on rookies and second-year players as part of a broader rebuild, the passing game has become one of the clearest gauges of whether this group is moving forward.
The problem, though, is that the offense has not yet given Miami much to build on. The passing attack has been uneven, and the pressure is landing on a quarterback who has to show more growth while the coaching staff and skill players do their part around him. For a team trying to stabilize itself early in the season, the next step is not just about execution against New York, but about whether the Dolphins can start getting cleaner answers from the same unit that has made life harder than it should be. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Backfield Crisis Could Force A New RB Into Action Fast
The Dolphins had to move quickly after De'Von Achane's season-ending torn ACL left the backfield thinner and forced Miami to look for help on the waiver wire. That led to the addition of Kaytron Allen, a former Penn State back whose physical running style and college production gave the front office a reason to bring him in as the team tried to steady a depth chart suddenly under stress.
Head coach Jeff Hafley pointed to Allens toughness and the way Miami evaluated him against Washington and throughout the draft process, a sign the Dolphins saw more than just emergency depth in the pickup. Allen has not yet had a chance to play for Miami because of the timing of the move and the bye week, but with injuries stacking up in the running back room, his first opportunity could come sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Former Dolphins Coach Mike McDaniel Is Running Out Of Time In LA
The Chargers have spent most of this season searching for a spark on offense, and the results have been hard to ignore. At 15 points per game, the unit has struggled to find any real rhythm, which has put former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel under a harsher spotlight as the losses and frustration have piled up in Los Angeles.
Around the league, the chatter has only intensified about McDaniels status, with reports suggesting his departure is expected even though nothing has been made official yet. If the change does come, it could trigger a familiar setup in L.A., with Jim Harbaugh potentially resuming play-calling duties and Adam Gase already surfacing as a possible offensive coordinator name to watch. [Read more 🡒]
