Chris Johnson’s first NFL game looked rough in real time, but Jeff Hafley’s explanation on Tuesday changed the picture pretty quickly.
Johnson, the Miami Dolphins’ first-round pick, opened Sunday’s game at nickelback and appeared to be involved in two touchdown plays. But Hafley said on a video call with the media that the blame didn’t belong where plenty of eyes first landed.
"On some of those other plays that you saw, everybody wants to say, ' Was he responsible for this touchdown or that touchdown," Hafley said regarding the two touchdowns that Johnson gave up. " I can tell you, on those two plays, his help was not where it was supposed to be, and he was playing the leverage he was supposed to play. Guys on the sideline immediately took ownership of it."
That’s not Hafley tossing anyone under the bus. It’s him making clear that the issue was alignment, not Johnson freelancing or blowing the assignment. And the fact that the players on the sideline owned it right away matters too.
It also puts Johnson’s postgame comments in a better light. After the game, he didn’t point fingers or try to shift responsibility.
He accepted it all and said he needs to improve. That’s the kind of answer teams notice.
The early grading on Johnson may need a reset. Sometimes what looks obvious on a fast-moving replay isn’t the full story, and this sounds like one of those cases.
The next test won’t be nearly as forgiving. Miami is heading into a matchup with the 49ers, and Johnson is staring at a much tougher assignment than he had against the Raiders.
San Francisco brings better receivers, a better quarterback, a better offensive line, and plenty of experience to make life difficult. And then there’s Christian McCaffrey.
It may not end up being a win for Miami, but it should tell a lot about how much the Dolphins have changed in just a week. It’ll also show how Hafley is adjusting his coverages, blitz packages and personnel groupings as the season moves into a stretch that’s going to demand answers.
For Johnson, the bigger takeaway is simple: the debut wasn’t as bad as it first looked, and there’s more to every snap than the eye catches in a few seconds of live action.
In Other News...
Jaylen Waddle's Broncos Debut Just Fueled A Dolphins Trade Debate
Jaylen Waddles first game in a Broncos uniform came on Monday Night Football, and for Dolphins fans still tracking the move, it was impossible not to notice how quiet it was. Denver acquired Waddle from Miami for a first-round pick, then watched him finish with one catch for two yards on three targets while the Chiefs kept him largely under wraps.
For Miami, the deal only sharpens the debate because the Dolphins used that pick on Chris Johnson, giving the trade a very immediate point of comparison. Waddles limited involvement in his Denver debut does not settle the argument, but it does give both sides fresh ammunition as the early returns on the swap start to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Owner Just Landed In Rare Company Among NFL Billionaires
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Ross is hardly alone among NFL owners on the annual ranking, with familiar heavyweights like Rob Walton, David Tepper, Stanley Kroenke, Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft also making the cut. For Miami, the bigger takeaway is less about the leaderboard itself and more about what that kind of ownership profile can mean in a league where resources, ambition and expectations are often linked long before the first snap is taken. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Rookie Corner Already Faces Pressure After Rough First Impression
Chris Johnsons first NFL outing was the kind rookies remember for all the wrong reasons, and the Dolphins are already living with the early lesson. The first-year corner was targeted often and had a rough debut, allowing two touchdowns and six catches on 11 targets, a reminder of how quickly the league can expose hesitation in the secondary. Miami has asked him to handle more than one spot back there, which only adds to the challenge as he tries to settle in.
Coach Jeff Hafley said Johnson needs to clean up the details, but he also praised the way the rookie has approached the setback. Teammate Dante Trader has tried to keep the message simple: take the game, learn from it and move on. The next stretch will show how quickly Johnson can respond, with more tests coming against a run of opponents that will keep him under the microscope. [Read more 🡒]