The Dolphins get a late-window spotlight again in Week 2, and if you’re in the right part of the map, Sunday’s trip to San Francisco will look a lot like Miami’s opener from a viewing standpoint. FOX has the broadcast, Kevin Kugler and Daryl Johnston are on the call, and the regional footprint is only a little wider than it was last week.
In Florida, the game is limited to the southern end of the state. Miami, West Palm Beach, and Fort Myers are the only markets set to carry Dolphins-49ers on TV.
Out west, the broadcast reaches a bigger chunk of the country, though it still stays regional. Because of the 49ers’ draw, all of California except San Diego will get the game. The coverage also stretches across most of Nevada outside Las Vegas, plus all of Utah and the border areas of Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon.
For Florida viewers trying to sort out the rest of Sunday’s slate, the early window is split up by market. On CBS, Miami and West Palm Beach will get Steelers-Patriots, while Fort Myers and Tampa will see Browns-Buccaneers. Most of the rest of the state won’t have a CBS game in that slot, with the western end of the panhandle getting Saints-Ravens instead.
FOX’s early-game choices are spread around too. Miami, West Palm Beach, and Fort Myers will see Packers-Jets.
Central Florida, including Tampa and Orlando, gets Vikings-Bears. Jacksonville and Tallahassee will have Panthers-Falcons, while Pensacola and the rest of the panhandle will carry Eagles-Titans.
The late afternoon window is simpler. CBS has just one game in Week 2, and in Florida that means Jaguars-Broncos for Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Pensacola. On FOX, everyone else in the state outside the Dolphins broadcast area will get Commanders-Cowboys.
In Other News...
Dolphins Young Defenders Earned Respect Even After That Raiders Loss
Even in a loss that left plenty for Miami to clean up, a couple of young defenders still managed to draw notice for the right reasons. Micd-up audio from the Raiders game caught Kirk Cousins praising rookie Jacob Rodriguez and safety Michael Taaffe, with Rodriguez earning particular respect for handling the green dot in his first NFL start and Malik Willis also drawing a nod for his continued progress.
For the Dolphins, those kinds of moments matter because they speak to more than a single play or a final score. Jeff Hafley has already been talking about the teams overall performance, and with San Francisco next on the schedule, Miami has a chance to see whether those younger players can carry that early respect into a tougher spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Already Look Like A Team That Needs More Help
The Dolphins have already spent the early stretch of roster work looking like a team that is still trying to find its shape. Under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, Miami claimed seven players off waivers after the initial cuts, a clear sign that the front office is willing to keep turning over the bottom of the roster in search of useful pieces. It is the kind of activity that usually says more about need than comfort, especially when a team is trying to shore up depth in multiple places at once.
Miamis biggest concerns still seem to sit on the offensive line and on defense, where the margin for error can disappear quickly if injuries hit or development stalls. That is why the Dolphins are being linked, at least in a speculative sense, to former high draft picks such as Evan Neal, Cody Ford, Azeez Ojulari and Jeff Okudah. None of those names comes with a clean solution attached, but they do fit the profile of players a team in Miamis position might circle while continuing to sort through a roster that does not feel finished yet. [Read more 🡒]
Malik Willis May Be Holding Back What Miami's Offense Needs Most
DeVon Achane has noticed something Miami can certainly appreciate: Malik Willis has the kind of mobility that can change a game if he leans into it. The Dolphins running back recently encouraged Willis to trust his legs more in live action, a reminder that the quarterbacks athleticism is part of what makes him an intriguing fit whenever hes on the field. Even with the toe injury he dealt with, Willis was a full participant in practice on Sept. 16, keeping him in the conversation as Miami looks at how his skill set might translate into something more useful for the offense.
Jeff Hafley also made it clear that Willis using his legs is not just a nice add-on, but part of the broader progression Miami wants to see in games. That leaves the Dolphins watching for how aggressively he incorporates that side of his game, especially if the injury concern fades and the staff gets a cleaner read on what he can offer. For a team always searching for ways to add stress to a defense, the question is whether Willis will actually unlock that element when the lights come on. [Read more 🡒]