Four Miami Dolphins whose stock is down after Week 5 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals
The Miami Dolphins fell to 0-5 on the season in Week 5 — but their loss still came with several strong performances to build upon.
The Miami Dolphins‘ Week 5 effort against the Cincinnati Bengals offered a slow start on offense and some familiar issues that have plagued the first month of the season. And, as a result, this team collected a familiar result: a loss.
Miami now sits at 0-5 on the season and will look to self-scout during their Week 6 bye. Here are four Miami Dolphins who will need to be better when the team takes the field again in Week 7 if Miami wants to claim that first win of 2026.
Four Miami Dolphins whose stock is up after Week 5 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback Malik Willis
This was Willis’ worst showing in a Dolphins uniform in my opinion. The raw production in the Minnesota game wasn’t as fruitful. But Willis had less opportunities in that game and his cast let him down on a number of the limited opportunities he had. In this game? Against Cincinnati?
Willis appeared to scorn on-schedule throws in an effort to find big plays. And the result was poor ball security. Three turnovers is a first-class ticket to disappointment. And it’s also more turnovers than Willis logged in the first four games combined. He can’t have it if he wants to be “the guy” long-term. And Miami’s trying to figure that out this season.
Wide receiver Chris Bell
After his coming out party against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3, Bell has been targeted five times over the last two games. He hasn’t caught a football. Miami did go out of their way to manufacture him a schemed touch on an end-around. Bell paid that off with 26 yards. But Chris Bell, the pass catcher, simply isn’t catching many passes right now. The timing of Miami’s entire passing attack feels clunky, which probably isn’t a surprise thanks to all the inexperience. But Bell needs to work his way back into the fray as a pass catcher.
Kicker Riley Patterson
Patterson has more games this season with a missed kick (3) than he does without one (2). For the first time this season, he finally got a chance to kick multiple extra points. He promptly clanged the last one off the upright with a chance to cut the Bengals’ lead to six.
The Dolphins aren’t a talented or experienced enough team to leave points on the field. And yet here they are. And that’s before you consider a short kickoff that failed to land inside the designated landing zone. The Dolphins didn’t pay for that miscue thanks to a personal foul by Cincinnati. But it’s more fuel on the fire.
ST Coordinator Chris Tabor
The lapses on special teams expanded beyond Patterson’s missed extra point and his missed kickoff. The Dolphins conceded yet another explosive play in the return game — an 81 yard kickoff return to start the game. Field position was an area of the game that the Dolphins lost again this week. And while some of that is thanks to the offense, it’s also been a common theme. And it would have been even worse if not for that boneheaded personal foul penalty on Patterson’s short kickoff.
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