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Julian Hill Julian Hill Not targeted in Week 16
Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 10:04 AM
Hill was not targeted during Miami's 45-21 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Analysis: Hill played 47 percent of offensive snaps versus Cincinnati, but it was again both Darren Waller and Greg Dulcich who dominated receiving opportunities at the tight end position for the Dolphins. Expect Hill to continue primarily contributing as a blocker when the Dolphins face off at home against the Buccaneers in Week 17. |
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Greg Dulcich Greg Dulcich Surpasses 40 yards again
Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 9:25 AM
Dulcich secured all three of his targets for 46 yards during Miami's 45-21 loss to the Bengals on Sunday. He also lost one fumble.
Analysis: Dulcich finished second in receiving on the team behind Jaylen Waddle (5-72-0 on nine targets), narrowly outpacing top TE Darren Waller (3-40-0 on five targets). Dulcich accounted for rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers' longest completion of the day, a 29-yard catch-and-run in the fourth quarter. He's now surpassed 40 receiving yards in three consecutive games, and he'll have two more opportunities to impress as the Dolphins close out the year against the Buccaneers in Week 17 and the Patriots in Week 18. |
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Ollie Gordon Ollie Gordon Only one carry in Week 16 loss
Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 9:07 AM
Gordon carried the ball once for one rushing yard during Sunday's 45-21 loss to the Bengals.
Analysis: Gordon operated as the clear No. 3 man out of the backfield for Miami, while De'Von Achane rushed 15 times for 81 yards and a touchdown and Jaylen Wright logged nine carries for 35 yards and a score. The rookie sixth-round pick has definitively been overtaken by Wright as the top backup to Achane, so he can be expected to remain in the third-string role as the Dolphins close out the 2025 campaign versus Tampa Bay in Week 17 and against the Patriots in Week 18. |
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Malik Washington Malik Washington Rushing TD in loss
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 8:23 PM
Washington caught his lone target for 23 yards and rushed one time for a nine-yard touchdown in Miami's 45-21 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Analysis: After catching multiple passes in 13 of his first 14 games, Washington has now posted back-to-back one-catch games on a total of two targets. Washington, however, was able to salvage his box score with a nine-yard rushing score in the second quarter to give the Dolphins a 14-10 lead. Cincinnati would then go on to score 35 straight points to bury the Dolphins. Washington has minimal fantasy appeal headed into next Sunday's date with Tampa Bay. |
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Jaylen Wright Jaylen Wright Scores late TD in loss
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:59 PM
Wright rushed nine times for 35 yards and a touchdown and brought in one of two targets for 18 yards in the Dolphins' 45-21 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Analysis: Wright saw complementary snaps behind De'Von Achane and recorded his second rushing touchdown of the season on a three-yard run with just under four minutes remaining. Despite the fact he tied his second-highest carry total of the season versus Cincinnati, Wright is likely to slot into a low-volume role in a Week 17 home matchup against the Buccaneers next Sunday unless Achane is injured or there's another blowout scenario at play. |
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Darren Waller Darren Waller Three grabs in lopsided loss
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 5:07 PM
Waller brought in three of five targets for 40 yards in the Dolphins' 45-21 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Analysis: Waller couldn't fully exploit what has been the most favorable matchup in the league for tight ends this season, although he did contribute a 22-yard grab on one of his three catches. The veteran tight end was working with rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers for the first time, and given they flashed some solid chemistry, Waller could be set for even more work against another defense that tends to give up production to his position, that of the Buccaneers, in a Week 17 home matchup. |
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Jaylen Waddle Jaylen Waddle Sets pace for air attack Sunday
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 4:55 PM
Waddle brought in five of nine targets for 72 yards in the Dolphins' 45-21 loss to the Bengals on Sunday. He also committed a fumble recovered by Miami.
Analysis: Waddle flashed good chemistry with rookie first-time starter Quinn Ewers, leading the Dolphins in receptions, receiving yards and targets. The swapping out of Tua Tagovailoa for Ewers thus seemed to give Waddle's outlook a boost, as the talented wideout posted his best receiving yardage total in the last five contests. Waddle should have the opportunity to continue working with Ewers in a Week 17 home matchup against the Buccaneers next Sunday. |
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De'Von Achane De'Von Achane Long rushing TD in loss
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 4:10 PM
Achane rushed 15 times for 81 yards and a touchdown and brought in all three targets for nine yards in the Dolphins' 45-21 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Analysis: The highlight of Achane's afternoon came on his 48-yard scoring scamper late in the first quarter, which served as his third-longest run of the season. Achane's touchdown was his eighth on the ground in 2025, with five of those coming within the last six contests. Achane also now has multiple catches in consecutive contests heading into a Week 17 home matchup against the Buccaneers next Sunday. |
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Quinn Ewers Quinn Ewers Respectable in first start
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 3:35 PM
Ewers completed 20 of 30 passes for 260 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed twice for five yards in the Dolphins' 45-21 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Analysis: The rookie seventh-round pick held his own -- albeit in a relatively favorable matchup -- in his first NFL start, arguably offering more of a spark at times than deposed starter Tua Tagovailoa. Ewers didn't take any sacks, but both of his second-half interceptions led to Bengals touchdowns. Ewers spread the ball around well while connecting with nine different targets overall, and he's likely to remain the starter for a Week 17 home matchup against the Buccaneers next Sunday. |
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Dee Eskridge Dee Eskridge Out for remainder of Week 16
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 2:34 PM
Eskridge (toe) won't return to Sunday's matchup against Cincinnati.
Analysis: Eskridge suffered a toe injury in the third quarter and has been ruled out for the rest of the game. Malik Washington figures to work as the Dolphins' main kick returner with Eskridge out, while Theo Wease could see more work on offense in what has become a Bengals blowout. |
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Dee Eskridge Dee Eskridge Exits Week 16 with toe issue
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 2:07 PM
Eskridge (toe) is questionable to return to Sunday's matchup against Cincinnati.
Analysis: Eskridge was hurt in the third quarter and exited to the locker room with trainers. He's been working as both a depth wideout and a kick returner for the Dolphins. Malik Washington figures to be the primary option in the latter role while Eskridge remains out. |
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Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Healthy scratch Week 16
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 11:05 AM
Westbrook-Ikhine (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Analysis: The 28-year-old has played in all 14 games for Miami this season, but he'll be a healthy scratch Sunday after going without a catch in the past four contests. Cedrick Wilson, Dee Eskridge and Theo Wease will compete for reps as Miami's No. 3 wideout with Westbrook-Ikhine inactive. |
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Darren Waller Darren Waller Set for Week 16
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 3:09 PM
Waller (rest/knee) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game versus the Bengals, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Analysis: Waller was listed as limited Wednesday and Thursday with rest/knee, but his return to all activity Friday clears him for Week 16 action. He'll be working with a new signal-caller Sunday, as rookie Quinn Ewers is taking over for Tua Tagovailoa. Nevertheless, in his seven appearances this season, Waller has had a knack for finding the end zone, as evidenced by his 20-243-6 line on 26 targets. |
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Darren Waller Darren Waller Limited in practice Thursday
Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 3:39 PM
Waller (knee/rest) was a limited participation in Thursday's practice, Jay Morrison of SI.com reports.
Analysis: Waller continues to have his practice reps managed, as has been standard for the veteran tight end all season. Barring any setbacks, there's not yet any reason to believe Waller's status is in much genuine doubt for Sunday's matchup against the Bengals. Waller is fresh off a two-TD performance on Monday Night Football against the Steelers and now faces an exceptional matchup against the league's worst-rank defense against opposing TEs, but Miami's overall passing game carries an air of uncertainty heading into what will be the first regular-season start of rookie Quinn Ewers' career. |
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Ollie Gordon Ollie Gordon Practices in full Wednesday
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 8:09 PM
Gordon (ankle) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Analysis: Gordon sustained an ankle injury midway through the second quarter of Monday's loss to the Steelers. His full practice Wednesday indicates that the injury isn't a concern for the rookie sixth-rounder, which puts him on track to play Sunday against the Bengals. Gordon has turned 60 carries into 191 yards and three touchdowns and six catches (one eight targets) for 30 yards and one score through 14 regular-season games. |
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Darren Waller Darren Waller Estimated as limited in practice
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 6:21 PM
Waller (rest/knee) was listed as limited on Wednesday's practice estimate, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Analysis: Waller logged a 54 percent snap share in Monday's 28-15 loss to the Steelers en route to catching seven of his eight targets for 66 yards and two touchdowns in the contest. Given that the Dolphins held a walk-through Wednesday, Thursday's injury report should add more relevant context to the tight end's Week 16 status, but so far there's nothing to suggest that he'll miss this weekend's game against the Bengals, which will mark QB Quinn Ewers' first regular-season start. |
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Tua Tagovailoa Tua Tagovailoa Relegated to emergency duties
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 2:24 PM
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that Tagovailoa will act as the emergency No. 3 quarterback during Sunday's game against the Bengals, Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald reports.
Analysis: Tagovailoa will not only be benched in favor of rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers versus Cincinnati in Week 16, but he's positioned to be inactive while Zach Wilson remains in the backup role. In that case, Tagovailoa would only be eligible to take the field if both Ewers and Wilson end up forced out of action. Based on the timing of his benching, it won't be surprising if Tagovailoa remains in the No. 3 role for Miami's remaining three regular-season games. Across 14 appearances this year, Tagovailoa has thrown a career-high and league-leading 15 interceptions. If he doesn't take another snap in 2025, Tagovailoa with end the season with a 68 percent completion percentage, 2660 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, in addition to the aforementioned INTs. He's also rushed 20 times for 43 yards and fumbled eight times, losing one. |
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Zach Wilson Zach Wilson Remains backup after Tua benching
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 2:17 PM
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that Wilson will remain the No. 2 quarterback behind new starter Quinn Ewers during Sunday's matchup against the Bengals, while Tua Tagovailoa will act as the emergency No. 3 quarterback, Alain Poupart of SI.com reports.
Analysis: Wilson signed a one-year, $6 million contract with Miami this offseason and has acted as the team's backup quarterback for almost all of the 2025 campaign, but it's Ewers, a rookie seventh-round pick, who has looked more impressive at practice and now gets the starting nod with Tagovailoa benched. That said, Ewers likely won't have much margin for error if he struggles to move the offense early, so it's not inconceivable that Wilson gets a chance to show what he can do under center across the course of the Dolphins' final three regular-season games. |
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Quinn Ewers Quinn Ewers Named Week 16 starter
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 9:54 AM
Ewers will start Sunday's game against the Bengals with the Dolphins having decided to bench Tua Tagovailoa, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Ewers, a rookie seventh-round pick, will get the chance to draw his first NFL start in place of Zach Wilson, who has operated as Miami's backup for the majority of the 2025 campaign. Per Rapoport, Ewers' opportunity comes as the result of his simply looking more impressive than Wilson in practices. The former Texas standout compiled significant experience as a starter in college and would doubtless have come off the board earlier in the 2025 NFL Draft had it not been for injury concerns, and he now faces a favorable matchup against Cincinnati's vulnerable defense. It's conceivable Ewers may be playing for more than just short-term opportunity, as the Dolphins' decision to bench Tagovailoa with three games left in the regular season signals potential long-term uncertainty, despite his having signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract last summer. |
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Tua Tagovailoa Tua Tagovailoa Being benched by Dolphins
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 9:47 AM
Miami plans to bench Tagovailoa for Sunday's game against the Bengals and start rookie Quinn Ewers at quarterback instead, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Tagovailoa's tenure as the Dolphins' starting quarterback comes to an end at least temporarily, and this move could certainly signal long-term upheaval for the team during the offseason. Head coach Mike McDaniel indicated after Miami's 28-15 loss to the Steelers on Monday that Tagovailoa's recent level of play has been unacceptable, as in his last four appearances the 2020 first-round pick has averaged under 200 passing yards per game, and compiled just three touchdowns to go with two interceptions. Ewers will get a favorable matchup versus Cincinnati's reeling defense in his first NFL start, but key fantasy options such as RB De'Von Achane, WR Jaylen Waddle, and TE Darren Waller now face more uncertainty in terms of their respective production floors heading into Week 16. Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract last summer and has $54 million guaranteed in 2026 alone, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, but it nonetheless seems entirely possible that the Dolphins explore making a change at the quarterback position this offseason. It's possible Zach Wilson operates as the backup to Ewers, relegating Tagovailoa to third-string duties for the final three games of the regular season. |
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