MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, the first-round pick and No. 13 selection in this year’s draft, is listed on the second team in a 12-man starting defense on the Dolphins’ first depth chart, which was released Wednesday afternoon.

The first depth chart is obligatory and doesn’t necessarily mean this is the way the Dolphins will line up in the Sept. 7 regular-season opener at Indianapolis. By most accounts Grant is having a good training camp.

In another mild surprise, Darren Waller is the first-team tight end despite being on the physically-unable-to-perform list and not yet having participated in a training camp practice. Julian Hill is the backup tight end.

Wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are listed as the second- and third-team punt returners. That’s relatively significant because the Dolphins were reluctant to utilize them in that area in recent years.

As expected, quarterback Zach Wilson is listed as the backup behind starter Tua Tagovailoa with rookie Quinn Ewers listed as third team.

Among other notable backups, inside linebacker Willie Gay Jr., one of the breakout players in training camp, is the backup to inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks, last year’s leading tackler.

And running back Alexander Mattison, another of the breakout players of camp, is surprisingly third team behind backup running back Jaylen Wright.

Here’s the starting offense — C: Aaron Brewer; RG: James Daniels; LG: Jonah Savaiinaea; LT: Patrick Paul; RT: Austin Jackson; TE: Darren Waller; QB: Tua Tagovailoa; RB: De’Von Achane; FB: Alec Ingold; WR: Tyreek Hill; WR: Jaylen Waddle

The starting defense — DE: Chop Robinson; DT: Zach Sieler; DT: Benito Jones; DE: Bradley Chubb; OLB: Jaelan Phillips; ILB: Jordyn Brooks; ILB: Tyrel Dodson; CB: Storm Duck; CB: Kendall Sheffield; Nickel: Mike Hilton; S: Minkah Fitzpatrick; S: Ashtyn Davis

Special teams — K: Jason Sanders; P: Jake Bailey or Ryan Stonehouse; H: Jake Bailey or Ryan Stonehouse; LS: Joe Cardona; PR: Malik Washington; KOR: Malik Washington

In the secondary, the Dolphins have Sheffield as the starting cornerback (ahead of newly-acquired Jack Jones) opposite Duck. Davis, currently sidelined with a left leg injury, is a starting safety ahead of Iffy Melinfonwu, who recently came off the non-football injury list, and beside Fitzpatrick. 

Hilton is listed as the starting nickel/slot ahead of Cornell Armstrong.

The Dolphins must replace all five of last year’s starters in the secondary.

The Dolphins list Robinson, the 2024 first-round pick, as a starting defensive end opposite Chubb, who is also listed as a defensive end. They have Phillips listed as a starting outside linebacker, which puts their three best pass rushers in the starting lineup on the depth chart.

The Dolphins list two starting defensive tackles — Sieler and Jones.

For punter, the Dolphins list Bailey or Stonehouse. Bailey is the returning starter.

Washington is listed as the starting punt returner and kickoff returner.

On the backup offensive line, an area of concern, the Dolphins list Larry Borom as backup left tackle, Liam Eichenberg (PUP list) as backup left guard, Andrew Meyer, who is scheduled to miss weeks with an undisclosed injury, as backup center, newly-signed Daniel Brunskill as backup right guard and Kion Smith as backup right tackle.

On the third team, tight end Pharaoh Brown is a bit of a surprise along with Mattison.

The Dolphins are on the road for the next 11 days in Chicago and Detroit. They practice on their own in Chicago on Thursday before a joint practice with the Bears on Friday, and off day Saturday and a preseason game against the Bears in Chicago on Sunday.

After that, they travel to Detroit where they’ll practice on their own Tuesday, have joint practices with the Lions on Wednesday and Thursday before an off day Friday and an exhibition game against the Lions that Saturday.

Originally Published: August 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM EDT