Backup QBs struggle + more takeaways from Giants 26-3 drubbing of Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have a quarterback depth problem.
With Malik Willis out due to rest and Quinn Ewers dealing with an injury, it was the Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski show Saturday afternoon against the New York Giants.
Unfortunately, their performance was not must-see TV.
The offense sputtered with both quarterbacks under center while the Giants got what they wanted ad nauseam as New York won 26-3. Miami finished with just 102 yards of total offense to the Giants’ 39.
Miller completed 55-percent of his passes for 60 yards. He also added a team-high 18 yards on the ground. Gronowski wasn’t much better, finishing with a single yard through the air on 40-percent completion and nine rushing yards.
Even worse: five of the Dolphins’ nine offensive series ended with three-and-outs.
“We made probably some poor decisions at quarterback,” coach Jeff Hafley said, adding that “we weren’t really on the field very much.”
“Just the details aren’t good enough right now,” Hafley continued.
DOLPHINS GETTING ZERO PRESSURE
Giants quarterback Jameis Winston had all day against the Dolphins’ pass rush.
The veteran was rarely rattled, something that led to his 71-percent completion for 150 yards.
One of the few times that Winston felt pressure resulted in an 11-yard scramble for a touchdown.
The pressure improved in the second half with edge Seth Coleman-Lyles and defensive lineman Cam Riley pulling down quarterback Brandon Allen for the only sack of the game.
One bright spot: the Dolphins held the Giants to three field goals when New York was in the red zone.
“We had a short field a few times and the standard stays the same: we’re trying to minimize points,” cornerback Chris Johnson said. “Obviously three points is probably the least we could get a team to but at the end of the day, our main goal is to keep the other team out of the end zone and I feel like we did a solid job doing that.”
TREY MOORE INJURY
The Dolphins’ defense suffered a huge blow when it lost the rookie linebacker in the first quarter.
Moore had to be helped off the field after he went down with an apparent left leg injury while chasing Winston. He was later carted to the locker room and did not return.
The rookie looked to be in line to be the Dolphins’ starting strong-side linebacker prior to the injury. It’s unclear how long he will be out, but Miami officially needs to get some depth in that unit.
Other injuries include that of linebacker Ronnie Harrison Jr. and running back Ollie Gordon II, both of whom did not return the game.
SPECIAL TEAMS HAVE BEEN LACKLUSTER
At first, the argument could be made that the special teams woes against the Washington Commanders were just first-game jitters.
That excuse is null and void now.
It started on the fourth series of the game when cornerback Ethan Bonner held on a punt return, forcing the Dolphins to start the drive on their own 6-yard line.
Then came punter Bradley Pinion’s 15-yard punt to start the second quarter. Soon after: another offensive holding, this time courtesy of safety Lonnie Johnson Jr.
In the third quarter, safety Major Burns was penalized for being out of bounds on a punt.
Last but not least: wide receiver Tahj Washington muffed at his own 10-yard line which the Giants recovered with the final two minutes.
Not the best performance for the Dolphins at all.
“We’re backed up almost the whole first half so when you try to evaluate it, you’re playing from the minus five in,” Hafley said before referring to his offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. “It’s hard for Bobby to call it. It’s hard to play it, but those are self-inflicted. That’s what’s disappointing so we’re not where we need to be.”
This story was originally published August 22, 2026 at 6:59 PM with the headline "Backup QBs struggle + more takeaways from Giants 26-3 drubbing of Dolphins."
