The first preseason game gave Miami Dolphins fans a clear split-screen look at where this roster stands: the starters flashed, and everything after that reminded everyone how thin the depth chart is.
Against the Washington Commanders on Friday night, the opening drive was the big talking point. ShulaSunglasses said the first unit looked cohesive and productive, with Willis appearing “reasonably sharp” and the offensive line moving people.
That first series, as they saw it, looked a lot like what Miami wants to roll out in Week 1. The only part that left them scratching their head was Washington not having its first-team defense on the field for that drive.
JUK came away in a similar place, saying the result on the scoreboard mattered less than what the Dolphins showed early. “Overall as i said elsewhere id rather win the opening drives 7-0 and lose 20-0 the rest of the way than the other way around. Better hope Ewers can bounce back if Willis does get banged up”
A few fans were even more direct about the backup quarterback situation. gizmoe65 didn’t mince words, saying, “Ewers has to go ASAP, he’s not the answer. We need to make a trade for veteran back now.” MiamiItaliano echoed the concern, saying the starting offense looked sharp on the first drive but the backup quarterbacks “need to be cut.”
The depth issues were impossible to miss for plenty of fans, and some tied that directly to the cap situation. SOD1961 pointed to the roster construction and said the lack of quality behind the starters was no surprise given how much cap space was tied up in players no longer on the team.
“Not a lot of depth should be expected with 60% of the cap dedicated to players no longer on the team. A reset was needed to get the cap back in order.
We are on the way up, but gonna be a tough year if injuries pile up like they normally do. Thanks Grear and McPansy.
Summer of ‘24, aka Summer of Unnecessary Extensions, sunk this franchise at least through this season. If Hafley wins 6 games, he should be Coach of the year.”
That “reset” theme came up again and again. Ksphinfan called this season “a total reset,” pointing to the new general manager, new head coach, new quarterback, and the influx of rookies and new players.
The depth, in that view, is something that has to be built over time. “There’s us older folks who don’t have many games left to watch to be able to go through another reset in 3 years.”
James Pappas took a more optimistic angle on the organizational setup, saying this feels different because the general manager is operating independently. He compared it to 2019, when the Dolphins started with a string of ugly losses before Flores turned things around, but said this regime appears aligned in a way that wasn’t always there before.
There was also plenty of draft-day second-guessing in the mix. Unicornmiami99 said the defense still looks thin at secondary and edge, and added that they still wish Miami had taken Rueben Bain, who they described as a local hometown hero and “looking like a stud.” They also said Caleb Douglas “may be the real deal after all,” while noting that if the draft class - including Proctor and Douglas - ends up producing solid starters, Miami could be in a better place in a year or two.
Not everyone was trying to project far ahead. pete s. kept it blunt and short on the season outlook: “WE’LL SEE HOW IT GOES” and “4 AND 13 MAYBE”
heatforlife also brought up Ty Simpson, noting, “ty simpson 22 25 pre season or not thats hard to do in a game.proctor one pick before simpson”
For all the concerns, the common thread from the fan reactions was pretty clear: the first team looked encouraging, the depth behind it did not, and most of the crowd expected that to be part of the story after a roster teardown.
In Other News...
Dolphins Offensive Line Is Turning Heads Before A Bigger Test Arrives
The Dolphins starting offensive line has started to settle in just as the preseason ramps up, and the early signs have been encouraging. Limited reps against the Washington Commanders offered a first look, and the group carried that momentum into later practices, where Jonah Savaiinaea and Austin Jackson drew praise for both run blocking and pass protection. For a unit that has been under the microscope all summer, showing clean work in practice matters as much as any single snap.
Behind the starters, the depth chart is also taking shape in a way Miami needs it to, especially with the bigger tests still ahead. Caeden Wallace has been standing out since the trade, giving the Dolphins a useful backup option while the coaches sort through the rest of the interior mix. And with Jamaree Salyer now out for the season, the room has even less margin for error, which only raises the importance of every strong practice rep between now and the next real game. [Read more 🡒]
Quinn Ewers Suddenly Faces A Real Dolphins Question
The Dolphins got their first preseason look at 2026 in a loss to Washington, and the more revealing part may have been what happened behind the starter. Quinn Ewers, working through a groin injury, never found much rhythm in the opener, finishing with one completion on eight throws for 27 yards and an interception as Miami continued sorting out the backup quarterback picture behind Malik Willis.
For a team trying to build around Willis and clarify its long-term depth chart, Ewers uneven showing adds another layer to a decision that already mattered. Preseason is still early, and one game is only one game, but Miami now has a real question to answer about how much trust it can place in Ewers if it needs him to be more than just an arm in camp. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Keep Sending A Clear Message About Their Pass Rush Depth
The Dolphins are again adding to their edge-rush group as they continue to sort through the bottom of the roster ahead of Preseason Week 2. Seth Coleman-Lyles is back in the picture, bringing some familiarity to a unit that has seen a steady stream of recent signings and some notable absences along the defensive line as Miami keeps looking for workable depth.
Coleman-Lyles has already spent time with the Seahawks and Colts, and his return gives the Dolphins another body to evaluate in camp as they try to stabilize a position that can change quickly in August. For Miami, the move fits a broader pattern of keeping the competition open and making sure there are enough options on hand if the defensive front is tested again in the coming days. [Read more 🡒]