Dolphins’ Week 4 Victory Leaves Questions for the Roster

With Hill sidelined, former first-round pick Jaylen Waddle will now be asked to step into the WR1 role and provide the downfield spark that fuels this offense.

Complementary Football at Last

For the first time this season, Miami found balance on both sides of the ball. On offense, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa leaned on Darren Waller in the red zone.

Playing on a limited snap count in his Dolphins debut after coming out of retirement, Waller caught three passes for 27 yards and scored twice — exactly the kind of threat Miami has been missing since trading Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith this offseason.

Running back De’Von Achane added balance on the ground, piling up 99 rushing yards and a touchdown to round out the attack.

Miami’s defense, often criticized for poor depth and toughness, finally delivered. The unit forced three fumbles and held up against a Jets offense that leaned on extra tight ends and linemen, expecting to overpower a defense they believed to be vulnerable.

Linebacker Jordyn Brooks led the charge with 18 tackles, anchoring a unit that matched New York’s physicality and refused to break.

Looking Ahead to Week 5

The win over New York provided relief, but Miami’s work is far from finished. At 1–3, the Dolphins head to Carolina in Week 5 for another must-win — their first without Tyreek Hill. Even with Waddle, Waller, and Achane stepping up, the Dolphins’ success will ultimately hinge on Tagovailoa.

Now the league’s third-highest-paid quarterback at $53 million per year, Tagovailoa must prove he can carry Miami week after week. He’s done it before, leading the NFL in passer rating in 2022 and passing yards in 2023.

Without Hill’s game-breaking presence, that level of consistency is no longer optional. It’s the difference between Miami staying afloat or sinking deeper into an early-season hole.

Carolina presents its own challenges. Rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan, the No. 8 overall pick in 2025, and 2024 first-rounder Xavier Legette headline a young receiving corps with big-play potential. Quarterback Bryce Young will look to these weapons to spark a Panthers offense still searching for rhythm behind an inconsistent offensive line.

Miami’s defense must stay disciplined and prevent the kind of explosive plays that could swing momentum.

The Dolphins finally have momentum, but sustaining it will require more than just Tagovailoa. With Hill out, Miami’s defense has to match his absence by turning consistency into a weekly identity.