Three mysteries solved in the Miami Dolphins’ Week 1 depth chart update
The Miami Dolphins updated their unofficial depth chart for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season. A few questions appear to be answered.
The Miami Dolphins‘ Week 1 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders will offer the first official game action for many players on the 53-man roster.
The pecking order for starting spots? It’s been a journey. But with the first game of the season now just days away, the starting lineup is as clear as it has ever been for the Dolphins. On Tuesday afternoon, the Dolphins dropped an update to their depth chart. And with the update comes more clarity on a few spots. d
Three mysteries solved in the Miami Dolphins’ Week 1 depth chart update
Chris Bell has quickly caught (and passed) Jalen Tolbert at wide receiver
The top of the Dolphins’ wide receiver room ends up being two rookies and veteran Malik Washington. After all of that hubbub about Chris Bell’s recovery from a 2025 knee injury, Bell has earned his way into a 1st-string spot on the depth chart.
He passes veteran receiver Jalen Tolbert on his way up, as Tolbert struggled to splash as a minimum salary addition to the roster in March. Miami’s wide receiver room has added plenty of size this offseason. Tolbert’s length wasn’t enough for him to hold off the Dolphins’ third-round rookie.
The safety tandem ends up as not much of a battle at all
Back in the spring, the assumed safety tandem was second-year safety Dante Trader Jr. and veteran free agent signing Zayne Anderson. Trader endured a minor injury in camp that resulted in him missing time. Furthermore, head coach Jeff Hafley offered some strong words for rookie safety Michael Taaffe. It set the stage for possibly an upset.
Not as of now. It is Trader Jr. and Anderson listed as the first string safeties. Perhaps they’ll find snaps for everyone. But the guys in the spring seem to have brought it home for Week 1.
Punt returner: stable
The question lingered this summer about Miami’s willingness to allow Malik Washington to return punts if he’s taking a larger role in the wide receiver room. As of now, the answer appears to be “yes please” for Washington returning kicks. The Dolphins’ updated depth chart does not have rookie Kevin Coleman Jr. or anyone else listed at the top of the returner slots.
The both read ‘M. Washington’.
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