When the Miami Dolphins schedule was released this spring, the book on the team’s scheduling was that the first half of the season was tough before the “third quarter” of the schedule eased up in difficulty. Thus far, that narrative has been as advertised: New England (21-11 loss) and Buffalo (31-28 loss) proved to be too much for the Dolphins to handle — while Jacksonville has looked better than expected and Seattle is off to a 2-0 start courtesy of a win against the same Patriots team that easily clamped down on the Dolphins in Week 1.
But the Dolphins’ “second quarter” of the schedule is a very different story than what we’d assumed — there are a lot of moving parts with these teams and the dynamics of each matchup have changed significantly already amid the attrition NFL teams are battling.
Week 5: @ San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers might be the most snakebitten team in the NFL as it relates to injuries early on. The team has started the year 1-1 but hardly looked like world-beaters or defending NFC Champions, thanks in large part to a tidal wave of losses to the roster. Among those San Francisco is facing missing time due to injury?
- DE Nick Bosa (ACL, out for year)
- CB Richard Sherman (calf, targeting Dolphins game for return)
- DL Solomon Thomas (ACL, out for yet)
- TE Georgie Kittle (knee, week to week)
- RB Raheem Mostert (knee, week to week)
- QB Jimmy Garroppolo (ankle, week to week)
- WR Deebo Samuel (foot, targeting Week 4 return)
- IOL Weston Richburg (knee, targeting Week 7 return)
- RB Tevin Coleman (knee, TBA)
This game is still 2.5 weeks out — but this will be a different looking 49ers team than the one we anticipated the Dolphins would face.