MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins begin life after wide receiver Tyreek Hill on Sunday at Carolina. Hill, the team’s best player since being acquired in 2022, is out for the season with a knee injury sustained in last Monday’s 27-21 win over the New York Jets.
Coach Mike McDaniel must search until he finds the winning combination this week and beyond, and it won’t be easy. Hill was a two-time Pro Bowl selection in his three full seasons with the Dolphins, established franchise records for receiving yards and touchdowns, and was voted No. 1 player in the league by his peers. That’s a big hole to fill.
But the Dolphins (1-3) played their most complete game of the early season against the Jets, and it appeared to be a repeatable performance.
Here’s five things to watch for this week against the Panthers (1-3):
Offense without Hill
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (seven touchdowns, four interceptions, 93.2 passer rating), wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17 receptions, 185 yards, two touchdowns) and running back De’Von Achane (246 yards rushing, 143 yards receiving, three touchdowns) will be relied upon heavily to put points on the board with Hill sidelined.
Look for McDaniel to still look for deep passes to Waddle, but mostly utilize the run game such as last Monday when the Dolphins had 31 runs and 25 passes. Tight end Darren Waller (two touchdowns vs. the Jets in his season debut) will also be a factor, and the same could be said for slot wide receiver Malik Washington and rookie running back Ollie Gordon II. Achane and Waddle will be options one and two, but anyone could play a starring role.
Run defense
The Dolphins’ run defense remains a disappointment, allowing 158 yards per game, which ranks 30th in the league. The Dolphins’ front seven, led by tackle Zach Sieler, outside linebackers Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and Chop Robinson and inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, hasn’t been physical enough or disciplined enough and has missed tackles while defending the run. The Dolphins have allowed at least 100 yards rushing in all four games.
Carolina’s run game is led by running back Chuba Hubbard (543 carries, 217 yards, 4.1 yards per carry), Hubbard’s best game this season was his 17 carries for 73 yards in a 30-0 win over Atlanta. In his other games he rushed for 49 yards (at New England), 38 yards (at Arizona) and 57 yards (at Jacksonville).
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Right guard shuffle
Right guard Cole Strange, the former New England first-round pick, figures to start again at Carolina. Strange is the third Dolphins player to start at that position joining James Daniels and Kion Smith, and the fourth player to take snaps there because Daniel Brunskill relieved Smith in Buffalo. There’s a chance the offensive line — center Aaron Brewer, Strange, right tackle Larry Borom, left guard Jonah Savaiinaea and left tackle Patrick Paul — plays a bigger role in the outcome of Sunday’s game with the Dolphins possibly focusing more on running the ball with Hill being sidelined.
Pass protection was good last week. Tagovailoa didn’t get sacked and only took three hits.
By the way, Carolina’s defense is 12th in passing yards allowed (198.3 ypg), No. 8 in passer rating (79.8), 23rd against the run (129.3 ypg), and 19th in points allowed (23.8 ppg).
Dolphins special teams
The Dolphins had their best special teams performance against the Jets because they didn’t commit any game-changing mistakes (running into the punter, roughing the punter, allowing kickoff return touchdown) and they caused a turnover.
Kicker Riley Patterson was a 2 for 2 on field goal attempts, punter Jake Bailey was solid with four punts, three placed inside the Jets’ 20-yard line, and kick returner Malik Washington (three returns, 32 yards) was strong.
Third downs and penalties
This could be a difference-making category because on paper these are closely-matched teams. The Dolphins offense, which has played with a makeshift right side of the line, is No. 2 on third-down conversions at 48.9 percent while Carolina’s defense is 15th at 37.2 percent. The advantage goes to the Dolphins.
The Dolphins defense, whose front seven has been disappointing, is 31st in the league on third down at 51.1 percent while Carolina’s offense, which is missing guard Robert Hunt (biceps), is 20th at 38.2 percent. The advantage goes to Carolina.
The Dolphins are tied for 23rd in most penalties committed (32) and are 23rd in penalty yards (256). Carolina is tied for 25th in penalties (33) and 26th in penalty yards (266). This is a tossup.
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