Miami Dolphins Enter Season Opener with Lots of Lingering Questions

Miami Dolphins Enter Season Opener with Lots of Lingering Questions

The Miami Dolphins are set to kick off their 2025 regular season against the Indianapolis Colts, but instead of entering Week 1 with confidence, they find themselves weighed down by a long list of questions. Depth concerns, injuries, and uncertainty across several positions have cast a shadow over a team hoping to make a serious push this year.

The tight end situation is perhaps the most glaring issue. Darren Waller, the team’s marquee addition, suffered another setback in practice this week. At this point, it’s fair to wonder if the veteran will ever see the field in a Dolphins uniform. With Waller sidelined and the team having released Pharoh Brown during the preseason, Miami is left with just two healthy tight ends on the active roster. That’s a razor-thin margin for a position group often relied upon in both the passing and running game. The Dolphins will likely be forced to elevate a body from the practice squad, but that’s hardly a reassuring solution going into the opener.

Running back depth isn’t in much better shape. De’Von Achane appears ready to go, and rookie Ollie Gordon II brings a bruising style that could provide balance. Yet the problem is clear: a two-man rotation isn’t sustainable across a full NFL game, especially when injuries are always a play away. Without a third reliable back in the mix, the Dolphins risk overburdening their top duo early in the season.

Special teams also took a hit when kicker Jason Sanders was placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for the first four games. Sanders has been a steady presence for Miami, and his absence forces the team to lean on a replacement at one of the most critical, high-pressure positions in football. A missed field goal or extra point could swing the outcome of close games, and Miami can’t afford such lapses in a competitive AFC.

On the offensive line, the news isn’t encouraging either. James Daniels, a starting guard brought in to solidify protection and boost the running game, popped up on the injury report with an ankle issue this week. He’s listed as questionable for Sunday. If Daniels can’t go, the Dolphins will already be digging into their depth chart, and the drop-off in talent is significant. That’s hardly the scenario you want when facing a Colts defensive front capable of generating pressure.