The Miami Dolphins‘ 2026 season has reached the end of the first quarter. If we were to look at the Miami Dolphins’ season in four parts, the first one looks quite a bit like you probably would have guessed.

The most useful thing we can do is use this as a landmark and measurement for growth for the rest of the season. Comparing where the team sits at the end of the first versus the end of the first can show where growth has taken place. So where do the Dolphins stand at this point?

Here’s a first quarter report card for the Miami Dolphins’ offense.

2026 Miami Dolphins offensive first quarter report card

Overall Performance

The numbers aren’t kind here. Miami averages 11.5 points per game, which ranks last in the NFL. They’re just 3 for 9 in trips to the red zone, which also ranks last. The Dolphins are 30th in offensive yards and, for the second straight season, has lost their best offensive player in the first quarter of the season.

The receivers look like a bunch of rookies in spurts and QB Malik Willis has struggled to consistently move the ball. He looked like a quarterback with just 10 career starts at times, especially against the 49ers in Week 2.

Yet he’s had some surreal flashes. His sack avoidance has shot up over the last two weeks. And he’s making plays that don’t show up in the box score — he’s had two touchdowns taken off the board by errors from teammates in the last two weeks alone. The offensive line has been a bright spot in the run game — the Dolphins rank 6th in the NFL in yards before contact per rush this season. There’s plenty of context for why this group is where they are at and they must refine their identity with this personnel the rest of the way. And the numbers need to be much more profound for a strong grade.

GRADE: D

Rookie Contributions

Kadyn Proctor? A needle mover inside. There have been ups and downs. But he makes an impact. Caleb Douglas? The best wide receiver performance of the year — but he’s missed the last two games. Chris Bell? Big time flashes but with big time lapses. Tight end Will Kacmarek has been a booming blocker.

Beyond that, the rookie contributions on offense have seen UDFA fullback DJ Herman and fifth-round rookie receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. have gotten significant run but their play time feels mostly out of necessity.

GRADE: B

Injury Luck

Not going to lie, this one sucks! Star running back De’Von Achane is out for the year and the Dolphins’ most impactful receiver from training camp and the preseason, rookie Caleb Douglas, suffered an ankle injury at the end of Week 2. He’s missed the last two games and the Dolphins have SORELY missed him.

That said, the young core is still getting a lot of playing time together. They’re collecting major reps together beyond their veteran star back. That’s worth something.

GRADE: C

Coaching

It’s hard to isolate variables around the coaching when you have such a young and inexperienced roster. I’ve liked elements of what the Dolphins have shown scheme wise. They’ve maintained some wrinkles that weaponize center Aaron Brewer. After a lapse in Week 1 of chasing the scoreboard, Miami has generally stayed balanced and patient with their offensive approach. They’ve flashed some impactful quarterback run game potential — although penalties have soiled some of those looks, too.

Ultimately, there’s too much new at once for me to feel convicted in a grade through the first quarter. So I’ll take the coward’s way out.

GRADE: INCOMPLETE

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