The Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan era of the Miami Dolphins officially begins Friday night as we examine the team Miami’s general manager and head coach have built and are coaching.
Here are 10 things to watch for in Friday night’s Miami Dolphins preseason game against the Washington Commanders.
1. How efficient does Malik Willis look during his limited work?
It would be shocking if the Dolphins’ starting quarterback gets more than two series on offense, so the hope is that Willis looks like an efficient NFL starter, operating the offense as intended instead of running around the field like a chicken with his head cut off. Willis needs to speed up his processing speed, but it would help if he had better weaponry and adequate protection.
2. What tailback wants to be De’Von Achane’s primary backup?
Every tailback in this offense has a different skill set, and since the Dolphins intend to be a run-first team, it’s important to find a quality No. 2. Jaylen Wright has had a solid camp. Ollie Gordon II is the type of big back who performs better when the action is live. Carlos Washington Jr. has been a pleasant surprise. Will any of them shine late in Friday night’s game?
3. Can Quinn Ewers get out his funk?
Nobody in training camp has been more disappointing than Ewers because his OTA and minicamp performance hinted that the second-year quarterback deserved a legitimate opportunity to compete for the starting role. Problem is, he has struggled significantly in camp’s first two weeks and clearly needs to regain his confidence. It doesn’t help that he’s probably protected by the worst backup offensive line in the NFL.
4. How is Caedan Wallace used?
The Dolphins swapped late-round picks in 2028 and 2029 with New England to acquire the former Penn State offensive lineman the Patriots intended on releasing Monday so the Dolphins could hopefully supplement the weakest unit on the roster. Wallace will likely return to offensive tackle, and probably work on the right side. But it will be interesting to see how this third-year veteran performs in his second practice and first game with the Dolphins.
5. Do the Dolphins have a starting tight end?
Greg Dulcich, Ben Sims and Cole Turner are the three veterans competing for a starting role and roster spots, and Will Kacmarek, Seydou Traore, two draft picks, and Jeremiah Franklin are the three rookies expected to be brought along slowly. It has been hard to evaluate that position because of injuries to Dulcich and Sims, but their lack of contribution this camp has negatively impacted how each quarterback has played. Will that trend change anytime soon?
6. Can the Dolphins’ defensive front stop the run?
Miami’s biggest issue in 2025 was the team’s struggles stopping the run, and it’s unclear if the leaky run lanes have been patched. Miami will likely play the preseason without Zach Sieler, who is nursing an undisclosed injury, so Jordan Phillips, Zeek Biggers and Kenneth Grant will get plenty of playing time to show what they can do, and we should learn if Chop Robinson, Josh Uche, David Ojabo and Robert Beal Jr. can set the edge of the defensive front.
7. Is Jacob Rodriguez going to start as a rookie?
Rodriguez, the Dolphins’ second-round pick, is in a heated camp battle with Tyrel Dodson, who contributed 125 tackles, five sacks, one interception and forced one fumble last season as the starting linebacker paired with Jordyn Brooks. Rodriguez has closed ground on Dodson because of his knack for creating turnovers and fast diagnostic skills. Will whoever performs the best in the preseason take the lead for the starting role? And could Dodson possibly be moved to a team that needs inside linebacker help?
8. Trey Moore and Kyle Louis need to show growth
Moore seemingly holds the starting strong-side linebacker spot, and Louis is being auditioned for the big nickel role in Jeff Hafley’s defense. Both have had quiet training camps while they learn the defense and adjust to the speed of the NFL game. It would be ideal for Moore and Louis to get extensive playing time, which would provide the coaches film they can coach them with.
9. Is there a nickel cornerback on the roster?
Chris Johnson seems to be sidelined by an undisclosed injury, which means the Dolphins’ first-round pick will likely be put on ice for a game or three. That means Alex Austin and Ethan Robinson will get an extensive opportunity to impress the coaches at nickel. The Dolphins need to find a solid nickel who can cover slot receivers. Whether that’s on the roster right now is undetermined.
10. Dolphins need depth at safety
With Dante Trader Jr. sidelined by an undisclosed injury, rookie safety Michael Taaffe has had an extensive audition for a starting role. So has Zayne Anderson, whose familiarity with Hafley’s scheme puts him at the front of the line for the starting spot opposite Trader. However, do they have the physical traits to hold down Miami’s secondary, and are Lonnie Johnson Jr., Louis Moore and Major Burns quality backups?
This story was originally published August 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM.
