Negative Turn in Bye Week for the Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins entered their Week 10 bye week with momentum, sitting atop the AFC East with a 7-2 record and eyeing a deep playoff run. By the time players returned to the practice facility on Monday, however, that optimism had faded: a series of unexpected setbacks—including a season-ending injury to a key defensive starter, a roster suspension, and a coaching staff illness—had turned the bye week into a critical test of resilience. Bye weeks are typically designed for rest, recovery, and strategic planning, but for the Dolphins, this one brought chaos instead, forcing the team to adjust on the fly and address issues that could derail their championship aspirations. Negative Turn in Bye Week for the Miami Dolphins breaks down the specific challenges that emerged, their implications for the team’s lineup, and how head coach Mike McDaniel and his staff are working to regain control.

Negative Turn in Bye Week for the Miami Dolphins first took a dark turn on Wednesday, when defensive end Jaelan Phillips underwent an MRI that revealed a torn Achilles tendon—an injury he sustained during a voluntary workout at the team’s facility. Phillips, who had emerged as the Dolphins’ top pass-rusher with 6 sacks and 12 quarterback hits through nine games, was immediately ruled out for the rest of the season. The loss is a devastating blow to a defensive line that already lost Zach Sieler to a knee injury earlier in the month. Phillips’ absence leaves a gaping hole in Miami’s ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks, a weakness that divisional rivals like the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots will likely exploit. “Jaelan is irreplaceable in a lot of ways,” said Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer. “He’s not just a pass-rusher—he’s a leader on our defense, someone who sets the tone with his work ethic. Losing him this late in the season is a huge setback, but we have to find a way to move forward.” The Dolphins quickly signed free-agent defensive end Mario Addison to the practice squad, but the 36-year-old veteran—while experienced—lacks the athleticism and upside that Phillips brought to the lineup.

To compound matters, Negative Turn in Bye Week for the Miami Dolphins saw another disruption on Friday, when reserve cornerback Kemon Hall was suspended by the NFL for two games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Hall, who had been elevated to the active roster three times this season to provide depth in the secondary, was set to play a larger role with Nik Needham still recovering from a hamstring injury. His suspension leaves the Dolphins with just four healthy cornerbacks, including starters Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou, and forces undrafted rookie Cam Smith into a more prominent backup role. Smith, who has appeared in just three games this season, has yet to play more than 10 defensive snaps in a single contest, raising concerns about his readiness to contribute in high-pressure situations. “We’re thin at corner as it is, so losing Kemon is tough,” Boyer admitted. “Cam has been working hard in practice, but there’s a big difference between practice reps and game reps. We’ll need him to step up, and we’ll also have to adjust our schemes to hide some of our vulnerabilities back there.”

Negative Turn in Bye Week for the Miami Dolphins also hit the coaching staff, when offensive line coach Butch Barry was hospitalized with a severe case of the flu on Saturday. Barry, who has been instrumental in developing Miami’s young offensive line into one of the league’s best (the Dolphins rank 5th in sacks allowed), missed all weekend meetings and will be sidelined for at least the next two weeks as he recovers. Assistant offensive line coach Lemuel Jeanpierre will take over Barry’s duties in the interim, but the transition comes at a critical time: the Dolphins face the Philadelphia Eagles—who rank 3rd in the NFL with 32 sacks—in Week 11. Jeanpierre, while knowledgeable, lacks Barry’s experience calling plays for the offensive line, a detail that could lead to communication breakdowns and increased pressure on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. For the Miami Dolphins, the coaching change adds another layer of uncertainty to a week already filled with chaos. “Butch is the heartbeat of our offensive line room,” said McDaniel. “Lemuel is more than capable, but this is a tough spot for everyone. We’re doing everything we can to support Butch’s recovery, and we’re trusting Lemuel to keep our line on track. It’s a team effort, and we’ll get through this together.”

Another layer of Negative Turn in Bye Week for the Miami Dolphins is the impact on team morale. Players returned from the bye week expecting to build on their success, not confront a series of crises. Veteran running back Raheem Mostert, who has been with the Dolphins since 2022, noted that the team’s response to these setbacks will define their season. “Adversity reveals character,” Mostert said. “We’ve had a great start, but this is when championship teams show what they’re made of. We can’t dwell on the injuries or the suspensions—we have to focus on what we can control. That means practicing harder, studying more, and supporting each other. We’re still in a great position in the AFC East, and we can’t let this bye week derail us.” The Dolphins held an optional team meeting on Sunday night, where McDaniel emphasized resilience and reminded players of their goals. “We didn’t sign up for an easy road,” McDaniel told the team, according to sources in the room. “Championships are won by teams that can overcome obstacles, not teams that avoid them. This is our obstacle, and we’re going to tackle it together.” For the Miami Dolphins, maintaining that mindset will be just as important as any roster adjustment in the weeks ahead.

The final dimension of Negative Turn in Bye Week for the Miami Dolphins is the long-term implications for their playoff hopes. The loss of Phillips and the suspension of Hall weaken a defense that was already showing signs of vulnerability (the Dolphins have allowed 24 or more points in three of their last four games). The coaching change on the offensive line, meanwhile, could disrupt an offense that has been one of the league’s most consistent. If the Dolphins can’t find ways to compensate for these setbacks, they risk falling behind the Bills—who are just one game back in the AFC East—and losing their grip on a top-two seed in the AFC. However, there is still reason for optimism: the Dolphins have a bye week to adjust, a talented core of players (including Tagovailoa and Mostert), and a coaching staff that has proven its ability to adapt. For the Miami Dolphins, the bye week may have been a negative turn, but it’s not a fatal one—provided they can regroup and refocus. “We’re not going to let this define us,” Tagovailoa said. “We have a lot of football left, and we’re still a great team. We’ll fix what needs to be fixed, and we’ll come back stronger. That’s what the Miami Dolphins do.” As the team prepares for the Eagles, the challenges of the bye week will serve as a test—and if they pass it, they could emerge as an even more dangerous contender in the AFC.