The Dolphins are heading into Week 2 short on edge rushers, and that opens the door for a few backups who need to make the most of it.
Clelin Ferrell is the clearest name to watch. Miami activated the former first-round pick last week against the Raiders, and with Chop Robinson ruled out for Sunday’s game against the 49ers, Ferrell may be in line for a start. Robinson will miss the game after suffering a concussion in practice earlier in the week, a setback that matters because Miami already had trouble generating pressure on Kirk Cousins.
Ferrell barely got on the field in Week 1, playing just 11 defensive snaps and finishing with one tackle. That same tackle total was eventually credited to Robinson after the NFL adjusted the statistics. This week, though, Ferrell should see a much heavier workload, and his performance could go a long way toward determining whether he sticks on the 53.
There’s also a ripple effect beyond Ferrell. Ronnie Harrison Jr. has been ruled out as well, though he didn’t log a defensive snap in Week 1 and instead played 12 snaps on special teams. With Harrison unavailable, Jackson Woodard could absorb some of that workload, but the bigger opportunity may belong to Zeek Biggers.
Jeff Hafley has used Biggers on the outside and has pointed to both his versatility and his physicality. If Biggers gets edge snaps, Miami could have another useful option in the rotation. The Dolphins also need to get real game experience for him at the position if they want him to handle duties both inside and outside.
How much Biggers plays at defensive end could depend on how Ferrell handles things from series to series. And there’s another name in the mix, even if this week might come too soon for him.
Seventh-round pick Max Llewellyn is on the practice squad after looking promising throughout camp. He originally made the 53-man roster before being cut and re-signed to the practice squad.
Llewellyn has already shown enough to keep his name in the conversation, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him on the field at some point, or at minimum back on the 53-man roster.
Miami’s depth at the position is still thin even with Biggers available. Malik Herring and Josh Uche are the only other edge rushers on the roster, while the Dolphins also kept four players at the position on the practice squad, including Ferrell and Llewellyn. With Robinson out, the backup defenders are suddenly staring at valuable playing time.
In Other News...
Dolphins Rebuild Could Hinge On Jon-Eric Sullivans Biggest Decision
The Dolphins have spent plenty of time looking for a long-term answer at quarterback, and the conversation is already drifting toward a future draft that could reshape the franchise. If Miami ends up in position to chase the first overall pick in 2027, the decision sitting in front of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan could be as important as any move the team makes this decade, with Arch Manning, Dante Moore and Jeremiah Smith all mentioned among the names that could change the direction of the rebuild.
Sullivans challenge is bigger than just choosing a player. Miami could use the pick on a quarterback, but the article also points to the possibility of trading within the division or working out a deal with teams such as the Jets or Browns, which would make the selection process even more complicated. For a team still sorting through its current quarterback situation and bracing for another difficult season, the real question is not just who should be taken, but how far Sullivan might be willing to go to turn a premium draft spot into the right kind of reset. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Face A 49ers Injury Situation That Could Shift Sunday
The 49ers injury report heading into Week 2 is worth watching closely for Miami, even before you get to the headline names who are cleared to play. Rookie running back Kaelon Black is questionable with a groin issue, and kicker Eddy Pieiro is also listed as questionable because of an illness, leaving a little uncertainty around a game that already comes with plenty of attention.
San Francisco did get encouraging news elsewhere, with several of its core players carrying no game designation after working through scheduled rest, and wide receiver DeZhaun Stribling is out after ankle surgery and expected to miss about 10 weeks. For the Dolphins, the larger takeaway is that the 49ers could still look mostly intact on Sunday, but the final injury word on Black and Pieiro is one more layer to monitor as the matchup gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Are Taking A Risk At WR Fans Will Feel Fast
The Dolphins have pushed their wide receiver room into a new phase after trading Jaylen Waddle, turning the spotlight toward a crop of young pass catchers who have yet to prove themselves in NFL games. Rookies Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell and Kevin Coleman Jr. are now part of a group Miami is trying to mold on the fly, with the organization clearly choosing development over the safer path of bringing in established veteran help.
Head coach Jon-Eric Sullivan is setting the bar high for that inexperienced trio, even while acknowledging the learning curve that comes with leaning so heavily on youth. It is the kind of roster decision that can pay off later, but it can also show up quickly on Sundays if the timing, trust and consistency are not there early, which is why this gamble could become one of the first things fans notice. [Read more 🡒]