The Miami Dolphins are back from their Week 6 off weekend and heading straight into a division test in Week 7, when they travel north to face the New York Jets. It’s their first AFC East game of the 2026 season, and it opens the door to a stretch that will define a big chunk of their schedule: half of Miami’s remaining 12 games are against division opponents.
For an 0-5 team trying to claw its way into relevance, that makes the path clear. If the Dolphins are going to make noise this season, the improvement has to come from everywhere - and that starts with a roster built around rookies and second-year players who are being asked to grow fast and become the core of a rebuild.
That said, the burden is not landing on the young players alone. Miami’s passing game remains stuck, and on Sunday, Miami Dolphins on SI writer Tyler DeSena laid out the issues and spread the responsibility around to offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, the skill-position group, and quarterback Malik Willis.
Willis, in particular, drew a sharp assessment. DeSena wrote:
“Miami’s new quarterback bears plenty of blame for Miami’s failed aerial assault. It’s unfair to ask him to put out all of the fires started by his supporting cast, but he will be judged on whether or not he gets burned…
Quicker decision-making will be the biggest key for Willis. His process has yet to speed up the requisite level to avoid major mistakes.
He needs to be able to consistently get through his progressions, while also deciphering when to abandon the pocket or give up on a play. Thus far, he looks like a quarterback who has only started eleven career games, when this version of the Dolphins needs a higher level of maturation in order to put together complete performances.”
Miami has 12 more chances to avoid a dreaded place in NFL history and keep from becoming the first team to go 0-17. Along the way, the Dolphins’ passing game will need far more than one fix if they want to start turning this season around.
In Other News...
Dolphins Could Need Caleb Douglas Sooner Than Expected Against The Jets
Caleb Douglas is set to get back on the field Monday, giving the Dolphins a chance to see how quickly the rookie wide receiver can ramp up after the ankle injury that has kept him out since the game against the San Francisco 49ers. Miami has needed to juggle its receiver depth while Douglas has been sidelined, and his return to practice at least opens the door for him to rejoin the mix before long.
Jeff Hafley said Douglas will be limited at first, which means this week will be more about tracking his progress than making any immediate assumptions about his availability. For a Dolphins offense that can use every healthy option it can get, Douglas's return timeline is now one of the quieter but still important storylines to watch as the week unfolds. [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 🡒]