Miami Dolphins v New England Patriots - Starters

Injuries have juggled both the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots starting 11 on both sides of the ball for Sunday’s matchup. The Dolphins’ projected lineup against New England starts with a clear adjustment at left guard and unresolved questions in the secondary. Miami’s published depth chart provides a useful personnel map, but the final injury report will reveal Sunday’s lineup.

Miami Starters

Malik Willis is listed first at quarterback, ahead of Kyle McCord. Ollie Gordon II leads the running backs, followed by Jaylen Wright and Kaytron Allen. Miami’s first-listed receivers are Caleb Douglas, Malik Washington and Chris Bell, with Greg Dulcich at tight end and DJ Herman at fullback. Which players open the game will depend on the personnel package.

The offensive line’s listed first group is Patrick Paul at left tackle, Kadyn Proctor at left guard, Aaron Brewer at center, Jonah Savaiinaea at right guard and Austin Jackson at right tackle. Proctor is out with a concussion, making that published five-man group unavailable for Sunday.

Jarrett Kingston is listed immediately behind Proctor and is therefore the depth-chart-based projection at left guard, not a confirmed game-day starter in this draft. Caedan Wallace appears among Miami’s tackle and guard reserves. The key reporting distinction is between the next name on a chart and an actual lineup decision announced by the team.

On defense, Miami lists Jordan Phillips and Zach Sieler first at defensive tackle, with Chop Robinson and Josh Uche leading the edge positions. Jordyn Brooks and Jacob Rodriguez are the first-listed inside linebackers. Kenneth Grant, Malik Herring, Rodney McGraw and Willie Gay Jr. are among the listed alternatives within those front-seven groups.

The first-listed secondary includes Chris Johnson at nickel, JuJu Brents and Jason Marshall Jr. at cornerback, and Michael Taaffe and Dante Trader Jr. at safety. Brents is questionable, with Marcellas Dial Jr. listed behind him. Reese Taylor, listed behind Johnson, is also questionable. Those designations leave the final cornerback combinations unsettled.

Patriot Starters

New England’s team-site chart explicitly describes itself as unofficial but lists Drake Maye at quarterback, Rhamondre Stevenson at running back and Hunter Henry at tight end, with DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism III among the receivers. Although A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson still appear on the chart, both were ruled out Saturday and are unavailable for Sunday.

The Patriots’ listed offensive line is Will Campbell, Walter Rouse, Jared Wilson, Ben Brown and Morgan Moses from left to right. Their defensive chart leads with Dre’Mont Jones and Elijah Ponder outside, Christian Barmore, Cory Durden and Milton Williams inside, and Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss at linebacker. Elliss remains questionable.

Carlton Davis III, Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones are New England’s first-listed cornerbacks, with Craig Woodson and Kevin Byard III at safety. Davis is questionable. The matchup consequently has personnel uncertainty on both sides: Miami needs a left-guard replacement, and both teams must settle defensive availability before the first snap. These projections require another check before the scheduled evening release.