The Dolphins are coming out of the bye with a healthier look, and the biggest boost is easy to spot: Caleb Douglas is back.
Douglas was removed from the injury report after practicing fully Friday, putting him on track for the Week 7 matchup with the New York Jets. He’s missed the last three games with the ankle injury he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and Miami has felt the absence. Without him, the passing game has leaned heavily on Malik Washington and Greg Dulcich as targets for Malik Willis, and even that has been a stretch.
Even with those missed games, Douglas still ranks third on the team in receiving yards with 113. His return gives Miami something it hasn’t had enough of: a receiver with real separation ability, plus the speed and agility to get open quickly. At 6-foot-4, he also restores size to a position group that can use it.
That matters for a Dolphins offense averaging 153.6 passing yards per game, which is the second-fewest in the NFL and only 0.1 yards ahead of the Tennessee Titans. Against a Jets defense allowing 185 passing yards per game, fourth-fewest in the league, Miami could use Douglas as the kind of young spark that changes the shape of the attack.
Douglas may not be the only rookie in line to help. Safety Kyle Louis was listed as questionable even though he’s on injured reserve, but there was a positive sign Friday when he was a full participant after being limited the previous two days.
That could point to a return in his first eligible week after missing the required four games. Normally, activating a player from IR would mean another roster move to stay under the 53-man limit, but the Dolphins are currently at 52.
Miami also cleared running back Jaylen Wright, who has been working through a nagging foot injury. He’s had a limited impact as Ollie Gordon’s backup, but this matchup may offer a better opening. The Jets have struggled to stop the run, giving up 123 rushing yards per game.
Rookie tight end Will Kacmarek is ready, too. He said Thursday he would be set to play Sunday, and he was cleared Friday after dealing with a hamstring injury. His value has shown up more as a blocker than as a pass catcher, and that could matter if Miami leans on the ground game.
On defense, though, the Dolphins still have some question marks. Edge rusher Rob Beal Jr. is doubtful after leaving the San Francisco game with a hamstring injury.
Before that, he had one tackle against Las Vegas in the season opener. Cornerback Reese Taylor has already been ruled out with a quad injury.
Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. returned to practice Friday after missing one day with an illness and was listed as questionable after being limited.
The Jets have plenty of uncertainty of their own, starting with running back Breece Hall. He was listed as questionable with the quad injury he picked up against Detroit in Week 3. Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley said he’d be surprised if Hall didn’t play, though the Jets could also take their time because Braelon Allen has stepped in effectively, posting 314 yards and two touchdowns.
New York is also expected to get wide receiver Adonai Mitchell back despite a broken finger. If he goes, it would be the first time Mitchell, Garrett Wilson and rookie first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr. are all available together since the opener.
Nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat is also expected to play through a knee injury. He has 15 tackles in six games and was acquired from Tennessee in a trade that sent Jermaine Johnson to the Titans.
The Jets have a few players officially ruled out: linebacker Kiko Mauigoa (quad), edge rusher Joseph Ossai (ankle), and offensive lineman Max Mitchell (concussion).
Left guard Dylan Parham is questionable with a knee injury that has cost him the last three games. Jordan Meredith has filled in well, but Parham’s return would still be a significant lift up front.
Special teams could also be affected if Kene Nwangwu can’t go; he’s questionable after logging 251 kick return yards on 11 attempts. If he’s unavailable, Isaiah Williams would likely handle return duties again, and he already has one memorable moment against Miami - a 78-yard punt return touchdown in the Jets’ only score during the Dolphins’ 34-10 win at MetLife Stadium last December.
In Other News...
Dolphins Bye Week Put Jeff Hafleys Biggest Defensive Problem Under Pressure
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Jeff Hafley has already acknowledged the problem, and the next stretch of practice figures to be about more than just rest. The defense has given up a high passer rating and too many third-down conversions, so the staff is looking for ways to create more disruption and make quarterbacks feel it earlier in the down. How Miami chooses to attack that issue coming out of the break could say plenty about whether this group can turn a weakness into something more manageable. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Suddenly Need Rodney McGraw To Prove He Belongs
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Defensive coordinator Sean Duggan has liked what he has seen from McGraws effort and physicality, but the next step is turning that profile into dependable game-day production. McGraw has logged 53 snaps this season, and with the Dolphins in need of bodies and pass-rush help, his chances to carve out a larger role are suddenly much better than they were a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Can Push Jets Coaching Drama To Another Level
The Jets are already living with a messy coaching conversation, and for now Aaron Glenn still appears to have the benefit of the doubt from owner Woody Johnson despite the teams ugly start. Glenns 5-18 mark has only added to the scrutiny, with some of his recent decisions drawing criticism, but the sense around the building is that patience is still holding.
Miami, though, could change the temperature fast. Connor Hughes suggested the Jets would likely start reassessing Glenns job security if they lose to the Dolphins and slip to 2-5, which would turn an already restless situation into a far more urgent one. For the Dolphins, that makes this matchup about more than their own record - it could push a division rivals coaching drama to another level. [Read more 🡒]