Although the Miami Dolphins have battled through injuries, they sit atop the AFC East at 4-1 and arguably have yet to play a game at complete health.
Even that 70-20 beatdown of the Broncos back in Week 3 had a special teams breakdown in the form of a Denver kick-return touchdown.
Miami has won without their prized offseason acquisition, defensive back Jalen Ramsey. They’ve also dealt with missing Terron Armstead, and they’ll be without him for at least a few more weeks with an uncertain timetable for his return.
Additionally, edge rusher Jaelan Phillips has missed multiple games, and defensive back Nik Needham and running back Jeff Wilson Jr. are now practicing and awaiting activation. And one more nugget: Rookie cornerback Cam Smith is “knocking on the door” to get playing time, per defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Injuries to wide receivers River Cracraft and Erik Ezukanma led to Miami adding talented yet polarizing wideout Chase Claypool. Having worn out his welcome in Chicago, the Bears once again dealt with Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and shipped him to South Beach for essentially Miami moving down a round late in the 2025 draft.
The Bears and Dolphins have made four player trades in the last four years. On top of the move for Claypool, the two teams also completed the Dan Feeney deal a few weeks back and two trades over the last few years that shipped out Jakeem Grant and brought in Adam Shaheen.
Claypool was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2020 draft. Since entering the league, he’s scored nine receiving touchdowns and added a pair on the ground. He could be a mix of a red zone threat and a “slash” type of player, getting some handoffs or end arounds, as he displayed as a Steeler.
There have also been whispers of tight end usage, but as head coach Mike McDaniel said in a recent press conference, “he’s a wide receiver.”
Chicago and Claypool aside, Miami is a team still gaining momentum. That was slowed some, however, by the recent news of rookie running back De’Von Achane now on injured reserve with a knee injury.
As agonizing of a blow as that was to a potential Rookie of the Year and record-breaking start to a campaign Achane has had, Miami has reserves ready.
Running backs Salvon Ahmed and undrafted rookie Chris Brooks will pick up some slack there.
Veteran Raheem Mostert is off to a fantastic start, rushing for 5.4 yards per carry and leading the NFL in touchdown runs with seven. As a side note, Mostert is second in league history in career yards per carry (5.38). No. 1 on that list is Bo Jackson (5.40).
Add all of this to the NFL’s passing yardage leader (Tua Tagovailoa) throwing to receiving yardage and touchdown leader (Tyreek Hill), and sprinkle in Jaylen Waddle, and this team is closing in on their opportunity to play their best football as a full unit.
Waddle has missed a game and snaps with a few injuries and last week was welcomed back with 10 targets, five catches and a touchdown. Believe it or not, this team hasn’t come close to being as whole and as good as they can be.
Just think about it.
The Dolphins have a chance to do something unprecedented at Hard Rock Stadium, which opened in 1987: They could win their 15th out of their last 17 games at home. Miami hasn’t won 15 of 17 at home since their 23-2 streak from 1983 to 1986 at the Orange Bowl. They try for this on Fan Weekend, which also features the honoring of Miami’s latest Hall of Famer, Zach Thomas.
In a fun coincidence, a win would give Miami a 5-1 record to start the year, something they haven’t done since 2002. That season, Thomas was a Pro Bowler.
The 4-1 Dolphins kick off against the 0-5 Carolina Panthers at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday in front of a fan base that’s ready to cap off a weekend-long party with another victory.
