A six-pack of Dolphins news and notes from our weekly session with a handful of assistant coaches and coordinators:
▪ In an era where even 60-plus yard field goals no longer raise eyebrows, it was somewhat jarring to see the Dolphins bypass 55 and 58 yard field goals in the second quarter against Kansas City.
On the first, the Dolphins went for it on 4th and 3 from the Kansas City 37 and got a first down because of a Chiefs holding penalty.
On the second, Miami took a delay of game on 4th and 8 from the Chiefs 40 and punted.
So why not try the field goal?
Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor indicated the decision had nothing to do with kicker Riley Patterson.
“You are playing the Kansas City Chiefs,” special teams coach Chris Tabor said. “Field goals typically don’t” beat the Chiefs.
And Tabor noted the fact the Dolphins were getting the ball to start the second half also factored into the decision.
“Do we have confidence in him? 100 percent,” Tabor said of Patterson.
Asked how he feels emotionally when he isn’t sent out for long field goals, Patterson said:
“I’m a field goal kicker. I want to go out and kick field goals. We are trying to win games, not help people out. Their job is to decide when I go out. My job is to be the best field goal kicker I can. Whenever they want to do that, I’ll go out and be ready for that.”
Patterson said before the season that his leg feels as strong as it has ever felt. He’s 7 for 14 in his career from 50 plus yards, with a career high of 54, which he set last season when he went 3 for 4 from 50 plus. But he has missed his only 50-plus yard field goal this season, a 51-yarder at San Francisco.
The Dolphins auditioned four kickers two days after that game but decided to stick with Patterson, who is 5 for 7 overall on field goals this season.
“When I was younger, something like that would phase me more often,” he said. “But there’s a standard I’m very well aware of in this league. The job is to make kicks.”
One reason the Dolphins signed veteran Zane Gonzalez to compete with Patterson was his leg strength. But Gonzalez, who is 18 for 28 from 50 plus in his career, sustained a season ending injury in August.
Jason Sanders, released by the Dolphins during the offseason, is 2 for 3 for the Jets from that distance this season (with a long of 52) and 35 for 51 in his career, including two conversions from 57 yards.
NFL kickers converted a record 12 of 22 field goals from 60-plus yards last season, including 68- and 67-yarders by Jacksonville’s Cam Little. Dallas’ Brandon Audrey hit three from 60-plus.
▪ Unless the Dolphins get to the quarterback Sunday, they would become the first team since 1974 to not record a sack in its first four games, per Stathead.
“Everybody would love sacks. Sacks are great. They’re momentum plays,” defensive coordinator Sean Duggan said. “But…if you are affecting the quarterbacks, that’s the main goal – getting him off the spot, forcing a bad throw – getting cumulative hits on him.”
▪ Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik suggested the loss of De’Von Achane to a season-ending ACL injury would not force the Dolphins to make significant changes to their offense.
He said top backups Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II are both “able to run zone” and have “good vision” and are “one cut downhill type runners” and have “the ability to get to the edge when required.
“Jaylen is very fast. Ollie is big and hard to tackle – that part is different. [But] there’s not going to be that much of a difference” in how the coaches use them.
▪ Offensive line coach Zach Yenser’s assessment of Kadyn Proctor through three games: “He’s gotten better every game he played. Comes to work with a big smile on his face, very humble. He works his butt off.
“He figures out one thing every day that he wants to work. We are not close to where we want to be and he knows that but I’ve been very pleased with him. He’s on his way to being a good player.”
Though Proctor seems likely to play tackle eventually, Yenser said: “He can play anywhere we want him. He can be a dominant guard, especially in the run game, with that size. You don’t find guys inside who can move the way he moves. I do believe he could play anywhere we want him to. He’s found a good home at left guard right now.”
Per Pro Football Reference, the Dolphins are running to the left or up the middle on 80 percent of their rushing attempts, behind left tackle Patrick Paul, Proctor and center Aaron Brewer. Yenser said run direction is often based on “what the defense is really giving you.”
▪ Yenser, on Jonah Savaiinaea, who moved back to his college position of right guard this season: “I can see him every week growing in confidence [and] being more patient in pass protection.”
Yenser told him to “be you; you’re a big human being. Make them run around you or through you. [Don’t let them] beat you inside.”
Yenser said Savaiinaea is “really cutting it loose in the run game; he’s another big human being who runs really well.”
▪ Some notes from defensive backs/cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae (who was a Miami Hurricanes assistant in 2022 and 2023 before leaving for the Buffalo Bills):
He said rookie Chris Johnson “is a little bit of a unicorn. He’s comfortable in both areas [boundary and slot], which is one of the reasons we took him. He’s obviously young – there will be some bumps and bruises. He takes coaching…”
On Jason Marshall: “He has the skill set to continue to grow. I remember trying to get him in the portal.”
On JuJu Brents: “He’s a little pit bull. I coached Taron Johnson in Buffalo and there’s a similar attribute – comfortable playing in tight quarters [against bigger receivers].”
Storm Duck, who remains on the physically unable to perform list with a knee issue (and now an Achilles’ issue) but began practicing this week, “is a little bit of a wrapped Christmas gift I just got a chance to unwrap. He’s got a great mindset. Has always been sharp mentally. He’s using that to build his overall football IQ. For that, he will be better off.”
Does coaching such a young room make Addae more patient as a coach? “It does but no excuses. They were all the best where they come from. It’s a big boy league. These guys are young. Some may see that as a negative. Sometimes it’s good; sometimes you don’t have to unravel what has been done. Either way, it takes some time.”
Injury report
Receiver Caleb Douglas (ankle) and defensive lineman Robert Beal (hamstring) missed practice, suggesting they’re not especially likely to play Sunday at Minnesota (4:25 p.m., Fox).
Center Aaron Brewer was listed on the injury report for the first time with a hand issue; he was limited Thursday. Chris Bell (knee) and Duck (knee/Achilles) were limited.
Vikings All Pro receiver Justin Jefferson missed practice for the second day in a row with an ankle injury.
This story was originally published October 1, 2026 at 5:35 PM.
Miami Herald
Barry Jackson has written for the Miami Herald since 1986 and has written the Florida Sports Buzz column since 2002.