MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins had visions of winning in 2025, and through three weeks, it hasn’t happened once.
Players understand 0-3 is not where they want to be entering this week’s Monday night game against the New York Jets, but they’re maintaining an eager mindset to take it from this point forward.
“Obviously, it’s a pressing issue. We need to start winning games,” Dolphins outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips said. “But this isn’t a death sentence for us, and it’s not indicative of how the rest of the season is going to go.
“I think that we are frustrated and disappointed but not discouraged and definitely haven’t lost any confidence in ourselves, and even that frustration is just with us. It’s frustration knowing that we can play a better brand of football and we haven’t. So nobody’s panicking, nobody’s pointing fingers.
“This is far from a crisis within our team. So, really, we’re just composed and attacking each day the way that we need to, and we know that the wins and the production will come.
Phillips alluded to, his first season with the Dolphins in 2021, going on a seven-game losing streak and then following it up with a seven-game winning streak.
Running back De’Von Achane, similarly, doesn’t appear deterred early in the season.
“I feel like we’re good,” Achane said. “I wouldn’t say we’re down. We played a great team last week. As we watch film, there was a lot of stuff we could’ve done better. If we just keep focusing on those details and not having those mistakes in critical times, I feel like we’re going to be good.”
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Added safety Ashtyn Davis: “We’re in a good spot, in terms of where we’re at mentally.”
Wide receiver and return specialist Malik Washington expressed excitement over the next opportunity, as Miami looks to avoid — not only an 0-4 start — but losing to all three divisional opponents in the first month, with two games at home.
“We’re excited about ‘Monday Night Football,’ ” Washington said. “We’re excited to go 1-0 each day. We’re excited to come into the building and be with each other. I think the mood’s we’re thriving, we’re hoping to get our first win on Monday, but we’re just gelling together.”
Practice report
The Dolphins appeared relatively healthy at Tuesday practice, but are still reeling at cornerback.
Storm Duck and Jason Marshall Jr. were the two players on the active roster not seen practicing Tuesday. Neither is expected to play Monday night against the Jets.
Duck has missed the past two games with an ankle injury suffered in the opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
Meanwhile, safety Ifeatu Melifonwu was back at practice after missing the Thursday night loss to the Bills with a calf injury suffered the previous week against the Patriots.
Miami defenders were seen working on punching the ball out from ball carriers forcing fumbles in practice. The team is yet to create a takeaway through three games.
Davis said the key is finding the air behind the football where the ball can come out through, not punching a ball deeper into a player’s grasp.
The Dolphins practiced in the very dark “pitch-blue” helmets they will wear Monday night as part of their alternate “Rivalries” uniform.
Davis said he felt youthful enthusiasm wearing the new helmet for the first time in practice.
Practice squad moves
The Dolphins signed two big offensive linemen to the practice squad Tuesday: Kadeem Telfort and Roy Mbaeteka.
Telfort, who appeared in 16 games without a start for the Green Bay Packers last year mostly playing special teams, is a Miami native who played in high school at Norland High and Booker T. Washington High.
Originally attending Florida for college, he was one of the players accused of being involved in a credit card fraud scandal in 2017. He ended up at Alabama-Birmingham after going the junior college route following his stint in Gainesville.
Mbaeteka (6-8, 330) is a native of Nigeria and has been on the practice squads of Arizona (2025), Cleveland (2024), Chicago (2023) and the New York Giants (2022).
Mbaeteka is an international player, which allows Miami to go over the roster limit by one, and with the Dolphins already having one free spot on the practice squad, they didn’t have to cut any current players.
Jets trade
Before facing the Dolphins on Monday night, the Jets pulled off a trade with the Tennessee Titans for young cornerback Jarvis Brownlee.
Brownlee is a Miami native out of Miami Carol City High who played collegiately for Florida State and Louisville. His first game with the Jets will be at Hard Rock Stadium.
