MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins get another crack against quarterback Aaron Rodgers, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, after he had two strong outings against the Dolphins defense last season with the New York Jets.

In two games against Miami in 2024, Rodgers threw for 613 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. The Dolphins’ December overtime win against New York saw Rodgers pass for 339 yards, and the finale in the Meadowlands was a four-touchdown performance as Miami was being eliminated from the Denver Broncos’ game happening simultaneously.

“Very different game situationally,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said Friday. “He diced us up here, unfortunately. Now, Garrett Wilson and Davante (Adams) had a little something to do with that. Up there, it didn’t help that they were blasting that Kansas City-Denver score on the scoreboard, and it was about 28-3 before the end of the first quarter. I’m sure that didn’t help the morale of our guys.

“We know they’re in a playoff hunt. It’s December football, and at this point, if your team logo is still on that ‘in the hunt’ page, you’re going to get everything that team’s got. We’re going to get their very best, and I know they expect the same from us.

Weaver called Rodgers a future Hall of Fame quarterback, a sentiment not many would argue with.

“There isn’t a disguise this quarterback hasn’t seen,” Weaver said, “but you got to do everything you can to try to change the picture on him as much as you can, as often you can.”

Dolphins linebackers coach Joe Barry spent two seasons with Rodgers in Green Bay when Barry was Packers defensive coordinator.

“Utmost respect for him, as a player, as a man,” Barry said. “I’ve cherished the two years that I had with him, learned a ton of ball from him and me and my family have a special relationship with him. I think the world of him.

“He’s 42 years old, but the zip he has on the ball. You would never know — he has not lost anything from an arm-strength standpoint. The thing I respect, even more than Aaron’s raw, freakish skills, his traits as a quarterback, the way he plays the game — the game within the game.”

Barry highlighted his cadence and how he’ll snap the ball when he sees a defense trying to run a 12th man off the field. He called him a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Rodgers was 1-1 against Miami last season, missed both divisional meetings against the Dolphins in 2023 due to his Achilles injury

Weaver called Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf a “matchup issue” and voiced respect for the game of running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell.

Achane on track

Dolphins running back De’Von Achane remains on track to play against the Steelers on Monday. He was back out on the practice field Friday on a limited basis.

Before Friday drills, offensive coordinator Frank Smith said he expects Achane to play Monday and that he “looked great” at Thursday’s session.

“I don’t see anything that’s going to hold him back,” Smith said.

Achane said he should be good to go Monday night against the Steelers.

“It’s better than when it first happened,” said Achane, who has been experimenting with different padded protection for his ribs.

“Just a precaution. Just to make sure because I don’t get hit in practice, so my next time getting hit will be on Monday,” Achane said. “It’s not like it’s going to restrict anything.

Meanwhile, cornerback Jack Jones popped up on the Friday injury report due to a knee ailment. Center Aaron Brewer (ankle) was downgraded to a limited participant after practicing in full Thursday, and safety Elijah Campbell (ankle/knee) returned to practice.

Also limited for Miami was cornerback Rasul Douglas (foot), safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (thumb/groins), outside linebacker Chop Robinson (oblique), tight end Darren Waller (rest), offensive lineman Andrew Meyer (tricep) and long snapper Joe Cardona (hamstring).

Watt out

Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt, meanwhile, was ruled out Friday after having surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung sustained during a dry-needling session.

J.J. Watt, T.J. Watt’s older brother, posted on X that T.J. had the surgery on Thursday.

Watt was hospitalized on Wednesday after reporting what the club described as “discomfort” while being treated by Steelers medical staff at the team facility. J.J. Watt said T.J. was having a dry-needling session at the time.

Dry needling is a treatment used by physical therapists and acupuncturists to treat pain and movement issues, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Elsewhere, veteran Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward surfaced on the team’s Friday injury report because of a knee ailment. Rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon missed another practice because of his own knee injury.

Also missing Friday drills in Pittsburgh were left tackle Andrus Peat (concussion), cornerback James Pierre (calf) and defensive lineman Yahya Black (shoulder). Wide receiver Calvin Austin III (calf) was added to the Steelers’ injury report Friday.

— The Dolphins, on Thursday, placed linebacker Caleb Johnson (shoulder) on injured reserve and promoted cornerback Isaiah Johnson to the active roster from the practice squad. Tight end Hayden Rucci was signed back onto Miami’s practice squad after his brief stint on the Detroit Lions’ active roster.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.