The Miami Dolphins are 0-5, the New York Jets are 2-4, and Sunday’s Week 7 meeting in Miami comes with both teams trying to keep the year from slipping away any further. It’s Miami’s first divisional game of the 2026 season, and there are a few clear spots where this matchup could swing.
One of the biggest developments is the expected return of rookie receiver Caleb Douglas, who has missed the last three games with an ankle injury. His size back near the top of the depth chart should help settle the pecking order in the passing game, and Malik Washington looks like the biggest winner.
Washington has quietly turned in a strong third season, posting 50 or more scrimmage yards in four of his first five games. He has also become a go-to option for quarterback Malik Willis, who has targeted him 36 times this season, more than double the next-highest total.
With Miami likely looking for easier throws underneath and the Jets ranking eighth in blitz percentage, Washington is set up for another productive day.
The pressure battle could decide a lot here, because neither quarterback has handled it particularly well. Both passers rank in the top 12 in time to throw, top three in pressure rate allowed, and top five in sack percentage.
That opens the door for New York’s front to make life difficult for Willis. The Jets rank in the top eight in pressure rate and are tied for sixth in total sacks through six weeks.
Miami’s pass rush, though, has almost nowhere to go but up. The Dolphins have only four sacks, which is half the next-lowest total in the league, and all four came against Kyler Murray and the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4. Still, with two weeks to prepare and a quarterback who will stay in the pocket, this has the feel of a chance for Miami’s front to finally make a statement, even if Willis creates similar problems for the other side.
On the ground, Ollie Gordon’s second season has been a real bright spot. His footwork is much sharper than it was in 2025, and he has taken full advantage of the bigger role in front of him. Per NextGenStats, Gordon’s rushing yards over expected per attempt ranks ninth among qualified rushers.
The Jets are tough to move overall against the run. Their EPA per rush allowed is tied for third-best in football, and they sit around league average in yards per carry allowed.
But there is a crack in the armor: they have struggled to stop backs before they get started. Their stuffed run rate is seventh-lowest, and they are giving up more than a yard and a half before contact per carry, which ranks ninth-worst.
That creates a path for Miami’s offensive line, especially the left-side combination of Paul and Proctor, to spring Gordon into space. The Dolphins have opened up big lanes for him lately, and he has ripped off a 20-plus-yard run in each of the last two games. Against a defense that has a hard time generating displacement, Gordon could get a runway and use his size to punish New York’s defensive backs once he reaches the second level.
In Other News...
Dolphins Face An Awkward Kicking Test In Week 7
Miamis kicking carousel has already spun once this season, and it is about to turn again in a place nobody in South Florida wanted it to. Jason Sanders is now lining up for the New York Jets, setting up a Week 7 meeting with the team that moved on from him last offseason after weighing salary demands, injury concerns and inconsistency. Miami has been trying to find stability at the position ever since, even bringing back a previous competitor after recently cutting the replacement it had tried.
Sanders has been steady enough in New York, making 12 of 13 field-goal attempts, though the lone miss came on a 50-plus-yard try and he has also missed an extra point. For the Dolphins, the awkward part is not just seeing a familiar leg on the other sideline, but revisiting a decision that was supposed to solve one problem and instead turned the spotlight back on the most fragile job on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Get An Offensive Boost At The Perfect Time Against Jets
Miamis offense is getting a timely reinforcement for its Week 7 meeting with the Jets, with Caleb Douglas set to return after working fully in practice Friday. The wide receiver had missed the previous three games with an ankle injury, and his availability gives the Dolphins another option as they try to keep the offense moving against a division opponent.
The broader injury picture is trending in the right direction for Miami, too, with Kyle Louis, Jaylen Wright and Will Kacmarek all expected to be available or close to it. On the other side, the Jets have their own uncertainty to sort through, as Breece Hall is listed as questionable with a quad injury, leaving the backfield situation unsettled heading into the matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Get A Rookie Back But One Big Jets Question Remains
Miami got a little healthier heading into its matchup with the Jets, activating rookie safety Kyle Louis off injured reserve and making him available for the upcoming game. The Dolphins also added some short-term depth by elevating edge defender Max Llewellyn and kicker Zane Gonzalez from the practice squad, moves that help patch together a roster thinned by injuries and recent releases.
Louis had been out since the season opener against the Raiders with a knee injury, so his return gives Miami another option in the secondary at a time when every available body matters. The bigger question now is how the Dolphins choose to deploy their reinforcements against New York, especially with the roster still in flux and a few spots needing to be covered on game day. [Read more 🡒]