Here’s who to blame for dismal Dolphins run defense Sunday. And news by position
The Dolphins, who entered Sunday’s debacle in Charlotte with one of the league’s worst run defenses, can now lay claim to having the absolute worst.
After allowing Carolina to steamroll for 239 rushing yards on 7.5 per carry, the Dolphins awoke Monday last in the league in run defense, permitting 174.2 yards per game, an enormous regression from last year, when the Dolphins relinquished 103.7 yards per game on the ground.
The Dolphins are yielding 5.6 yards per carry; only Chicago is worse at 6.1.
The Dolphins defense has allowed the most rushing yards in franchise history through the first five games of a season (874).
So who was responsible for the deplorable run defense in Sunday’s 27-24 loss, a game in which Carolina No. 2 back Rico Dowdle scampered for 206 yards on 9.0 per carry?
Pro Football Focus said rookie first-round pick Kenneth Grant was Miami’s worst run defender on Sunday. Of the 20 Dolphins who played on defense Sunday, PFF said the seven worst run defenders were defensive tackles Zach Sieler, Matthew Butler and Jordan Phillips; safety Ashtyn Davis; linebacker Jaelan Phillips; cornerback Jack Jones (who was next to last) and Grant (last).
PFF said Bradley Chubb, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Chop Robinson were Miami’s best run defenders. Some notes by position:
Defensive line
Sieler played 56 of 70 defensive snaps, and Miami split the rest among Grant (30), Butler (29), Jordan Phillips (23) and Benito Jones (20).
Pro Football Focus identified Grant as Miami’s worst defensive player on Sunday and now ranks him the worst among 118 NFL interior defensive linemen this season.
Inside linebacker
Despite starting the Carolina game, training camp standout Willie Gay Jr. played only three defensive snaps, giving him just 17 in five games. K.J. Britt played 22 snaps after Tyrel Dodson left with a head injury after playing 45 snaps.
Britt is Dodson’s backup. Gay is Jordyn Brooks’ backup, and Brooks played 69 of the 70 defensive snaps. Brooks had 13 tackles and continues to lead the league in that category, with 57.
PFF rated Brooks and Dodson as Miami’s second- and third-best players on defense on Sunday, behind only Fitzpatrick.
Outside linebacker
Jaelan Phillips, who had his first sack of the season, played 53 of 70 defensive snaps, and Chubb played 52. Robinson’s snap count remained modest (21), and Matthew Judon played 20.
Safety
Fitzpatrick played all 70 defensive snaps, while Davis logged 58, Ifeatu Melifonwu 25, Dante Trader Jr. 12 and Elijah Campbell one.
The Dolphins used primarily safeties in the nickel corner role after cornerback Cornell Armstrong left after 23 snaps with a hamstring injury.
Davis struggled against the run and allowed both passes thrown in his coverage area to be caught for 53 yards.
Cornerback
Armstrong’s injury left Miami with just two healthy cornerbacks, but two of them — Ethan Bonner and Juju Brents — didn’t play a defensive snap. Jack Jones and Rasul Douglas each played 69 of 70 defensive snaps.
Jones allowed two of the four passes in his coverage area to be caught for 19 yards and a touchdown, and committed two crucial fourth-quarter penalties, including one on a third down pass to Hunter Renfrow that allowed Carolina to run out the clock. (Without the penalty, Carolina likely would have punted with 55 seconds left.) Douglas permitted five completions in six targets for 37 yards.
Wide receiver
The Dolphins allocated Tyreek Hill’s snaps primarily to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (39) and Malik Washington (32) and also used more two tight end sets.
Tahj Washington made his NFL debut and played three offensive snaps. Receiver Dee Eskridge played only two.
Jaylen Waddle played 49 of Miami’s 55 offensive snaps and had 110 receiving yards, moving past Nat Moore for fifth place for most 100-yard receiving games in Dolphins history. This was Waddle’s 13th 100-yard receiving game; the only Dolphins with more are Mark Duper (28), Mark Clayton (22), Hill (19) and Chris Chambers (17).
Running back
De’Von Achane played 48 snaps, fullback Alec Ingold 16 and Ollie Gordon II 14. Jaylen Wright was a healthy scratch.
Achane became the fourth player since 1970 with at least 12 rushing and at least 12 receiving touchdowns in the three three years, joining Christian McCaffrey, Roger Craig and Chuck Foreman.
Tight end
Darren Waller’s offensive snaps doubled, from 16 to 32, and he finished with five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown – all in the first half. Waller’s three receiving touchdowns are the most ever by a Dolphins player in their first two games with the franchise.
Julian Hill played 29 snaps and Tanner Conner logged 11.
Offensive line
PFF rated left guard Jonah Savaiinaea as Miami’s worst offensive player on Sunday and ranks him 76th and worst among all NFL guards this season. He and right tackle Larry Borom were given the Dolphins’ worst run-blocking grades on a day that Miami managed just 19 yards on 14 carries against a team that entered 23rd against the run.
Savaiineaa and right guard Cole Strange were rated Miami’s worst offensive players overall Sunday. PFF blamed Savaiinaea for two sacks and left tackle Patrick Paul for one sack. Carolina had more sacks against Miami (three) than it had in its first four games combined (two).
PFF rated center Aaron Brewer as Miami’s best offensive lineman and fifth-best offensive player overall, behind only Tua Tagovailoa, Waller, Waddle and Conner.
Quarterback
Tagovailoa — who finished with three touchdowns passes, 256 yards passing and a 122 passer rating on Sunday — is now tied for third in the NFL touchdown passes (10, behind only Jared Goff’s 12 and Matt Stafford’s 11), eighth in completion percentage (70.7) and 15th in passer rating (101.0).
This story was originally published October 6, 2025 at 11:14 AM.
