It is common for defenses to be ahead of offenses during the early stages of training camp.
Although it isn't time to panic, the Miami Dolphins' offensive struggles are worth monitoring.
According to several beat reporters, the Dolphins' defense won Day 2 of training camp.
"QB Malik Willis hit WR Malik Washington for a 25-yard gain on a play-action pass in 11-on-11 drills," Sun Sentinel columnist Chris Perkins said. "Willis, however, wasn't overly impressive. Three poor plays stood out. Willis threw an interception on a tipped pass. He also threw a pass that likely would have been intercepted, but it appeared he was sacked before getting the throw off. And he had another potential interception dropped."
Which version of Willis will the Dolphins get in 2026?
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The Dolphins signed Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million contract in March, hoping he could become their quarterback of the future. He is expected to replace Tua Tagovailoa after the team released him following six seasons.
General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley saw Willis revive his career with the Green Bay Packers after he struggled during his first two seasons with the Tennessee Titans. In Tennessee, Willis completed 53 percent of his passes for 350 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions over two seasons.
Tennessee traded Willis to Green Bay in 2024, where he became a much different quarterback. In 11 games, he threw for 972 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions while serving as Jordan Love's backup.
The question is whether Willis can continue that strong play in Miami under offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who had mixed results calling plays for C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. If Willis doesn't, the Dolphins would likely keep him because releasing him would provide little financial benefit. However, they could be in the market for a new quarterback in the 2027 NFL draft.
Expectations are that the Dolphins will be one of the NFL's worst teams in 2026. If that's the case, they could be in position to select one of the top quarterback prospects, including Texas' Arch Manning or Oregon's Dante Moore.
There's still plenty of time for Willis to turn things around during training camp. But this isn't the encouraging start Dolphins fans were hoping to see.
