The Miami Dolphins are coming out of the bye week with more than a fresh set of legs. They need answers.
A long break gives them time to reset before the annual “MetLife Takeover” against the New York Jets, the road game DolfansNYC turns into the biggest Dolphins away crowd of the year. Miami will have nearly two weeks to get ready for that one, but the schedule turns much harsher after Week 7. If the Dolphins don’t clean up a few key areas now, wins are going to be tough to find.
The first place to look is Malik Willis.
That needs to be said plainly: Willis is only part of the offense’s problems. He’s trying to show he can be a franchise quarterback because he isn’t there yet, and the results on the field haven’t been good.
He has the tools to play at a high level, but he is not consistently making the throws needed to take the next step. His uneven play and the mistakes that come with it are putting the offense behind the chains and leaving the defense to clean up the mess.
Willis can talk like a leader all he wants. But if he doesn’t win games, nobody is going to follow him. There’s no more room for excuses.
The next issue sits on the offensive line with Austin Jackson.
Trade talk can be pushed aside. Most fans would not be devastated if Jackson were moved, but if he remains in Miami, the Dolphins need either a rapid turnaround or a long sit on the bench.
He has become a liability, and Jeff Hafley knows it even if he has said otherwise. The feeling around the situation is that Miami will not be renegotiating Jackson’s contract after the season, and with the final years of the deal void, there’s little reason to keep starting him if he isn’t holding up his end.
The Dolphins don’t exactly have a deep group waiting behind him, but in a season centered on development, that shouldn’t mean sticking with a player who isn’t performing at an acceptable level. Someone else could at least gain valuable experience.
Then there’s the running back situation, and this one is hard to ignore.
Ollie Gordon has been productive, but Miami has nobody behind him. Jaylen Wright has been banged up and was last seen wearing a boot on his injured foot. The only other option is Carlos Washington.
That’s a thin spot, and it could get ugly fast if Gordon goes down, knock on wood. Wright hasn’t shown enough to be counted on for real snaps or reliability, and Washington hasn’t either. Gordon is already carrying a heavy load, and at this pace, Miami risks wearing him down before the season even reaches its midpoint.
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Dolphins Got Involved After One Young Fan's Tough Game Day Loss
Eight-year-old Bobby Barrow had a memorable day at a Miami Dolphins game, spending time with his cousin and building a game-day collection of autographs and memorabilia. What should have been the happy end to that trip turned into a frustrating loss after one of the keepsakes from the outing went missing, leaving the family believing it had been stolen.
The episode quickly drew attention online after Bobbys mom posted about it, and another Dolphins fan helped spread the word on X. Miami then reached out to assist the family, a small but welcome response after a rough finish to what had started as a special experience for a young fan. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Bye Week Just Raised Fresh Concerns Before Final 10-Game Stretch
The Dolphins used Tuesdays light bye-week practice to reset after Sundays loss to the Bengals, but the first workout of Week 6 came with a few reminders that the break is as much about managing bodies as it is about resting minds. Miami also continued to shuffle the bottom of the roster, making multiple moves between the 53-man group and the practice squad as it tries to keep enough depth in place for the long stretch ahead.
Jordyn Brooks was not out there after the foot injury he suffered in that Bengals game, and Malik Willis also was not seen throwing during the session, adding a little more uncertainty to a week that should have been quiet. The expectation is for the rest of the bye to stay low-key as the Dolphins try to get healthier before the final 10 games, but these are the kind of absences that tend to linger in the background until practice ramps back up. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Fans Now Have Real Reason To Watch Mike McDaniel
The Chargers 0-5 start has already put Jim Harbaugh under a microscope, even if ESPNs Ian Rapoport reports the head coach is not currently viewed as being in trouble. There is still some internal belief the staff can stabilize things, but the offense has become the clearest pressure point, especially with the unit sitting near the bottom of the league in the 2026 season.
For Dolphins fans, the familiar name in the mix is Mike McDaniel, whose path has been tracked closely around the league since his Miami run. If the losses keep piling up, Los Angeles could start looking at bigger changes on the offensive side, and that possibility has opened the door to another old NFL figure as a stopgap option. It is an unusual watch for Miami followers, but one more reminder that coaching rumors never stay confined to one sideline for long. [Read more 🡒]