Miami Dolphins rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has gone from rookie minicamp arrival in May to one of the biggest early stories on the team by the end of September.
The second-round pick has done more than just find a role. He’s taken over the middle of Miami’s defense, become the player relaying the calls, and handled the responsibility that comes with making sure everyone is aligned and the adjustments are set before the snap. He’s also piled up tackles at a relentless pace, with 28 through three games, which ties him for eighth-most in the league.
Then came the play that really turned heads. Last week, Rodriguez came away with a highlight interception after diving for a ball that was tipped twice, then securing it 20 yards downfield after starting at the line of scrimmage.
That start has pushed him into the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation. According to then South Florida Sun Sentinel’s David Furones, Rodriguez’s early production has him squarely in that mix. The betting odds and prediction markets have gone even further after Week 3, making him the favorite and moving him ahead of New York Jets edge rusher David Bailey.
Rodriguez, though, kept the focus where you’d expect it to be.
“It’s pretty cool, but I think it’s more important to get stuff done on the field and find more success with this team,” he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “It’d be cool. It’d be a really appreciated experience, but I think it’s not really something I’m focused on.”
Elsewhere around the Dolphins, the attention is already shifting to Week 4 and a matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. Miami will face former head coach Brian Flores, and the preview material around the game is already circling that storyline.
There’s also plenty of interest in how the Dolphins handle the backfield after De’Von Achane’s season-ending injury. Miami is working from within for now, and questions remain about whether Jaylen Wright will see more run-game work after his rushing ability showed up against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The injury updates keep piling up, too. Wide receiver Caleb Douglas is still not ready to practice to start the week, while Jaylen Wright was limited on Wednesday and Storm Duck returned to practice. Coach Jeff Hafley also addressed the running back situation and other personnel issues as the team prepares for Sunday.
On the Vikings side, the offense has gotten off to a rough start by both total yards and most of the major efficiency numbers, setting up a Week 4 meeting that comes with plenty of moving parts on both sidelines.
In Other News...
Dolphins Have A Marvin Harrison Jr. Chance They Cant Ignore
Marvin Harrison Jr.s NFL start has been quieter than many expected, but the possibility of a change in scenery is now drawing attention across the league. The Cardinals wide receiver has reportedly landed on the trade radar, and ESPN insiders say teams are keeping tabs on his situation as Arizona weighs its options. For a Dolphins team always looking for more explosive playmakers, the fit is easy to see.
Miamis receiver room could use another high-ceiling target, and Harrison would bring the kind of upside that can change the complexion of an offense. The question is how far the Cardinals are willing to go, since some around the league believe a mid-to-late draft pick could be enough to get a deal done. For the Dolphins, it is the kind of opportunity that does not come around often, even if the price and timing still have to line up. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins May Face A Risky Receiver Decision They Can't Ignore
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For Miami, the intrigue is obvious because the team has enough salary-cap flexibility to take on his contract if it decides the upside is worth the risk. The price tag being discussed is manageable, too, which puts the Dolphins in a familiar roster-building lane, but any real pursuit would still hinge on a careful look at why things have stalled in Arizona before they commit draft capital to a receiver with clear talent and equally clear questions. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Defense Is Teetering On An Embarrassing Piece Of History
Through three games, the Dolphins pass rush has been stuck in place, and the lack of sacks has become impossible to ignore. Miami has not recorded one yet this season, a historically poor start for a defense that was supposed to be a strength, and the problems have shown up in the air as well, with opponents completing passes at an 80.3 percent clip, the worst mark in the league so far.
The next chance to change the conversation comes against the Vikings, who have already allowed nine sacks this season. For Miami, that makes this matchup more than just another early-season test. It is a chance to show the front can finally get home, and to keep the season from drifting toward a stat line no defense wants attached to its name. [Read more 🡒]