The Panthers have some work to do, but they started the process of digging out of a deep hole in the second quarter.
After spotting the Dolphins a 17-0 lead, the Panthers were able to pick up points on their final two possessions. The result is a more manageable 17-10 deficit to make up in the final 30 minutes of play in Charlotte.
Xavier Legette made an impressive catch of a Bryce Young pass in the end zone to get the Panthers on the board and they were moving the ball well again just before the end of the half, but a false start meant they had to settle for a field goal.
That mistake was less costly than a pair Young made earlier in the half. He lost a fumble while being rushed by Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb to set up one Dolphins touchdown and sailed a pass that Minkah Fitzpatrick picked off to set up another Miami score. Young finished the half 10-of-15 for 110 yards.
Both Miami touchdowns came on passes by Tua Tagovailoa. Running back De’Von Achane got the first one and tight end Darren Waller scored for the third time in his first two games with the team. Waller has five catches for 78 yards to continue an impressive return to action after coming out of retirement this offseason.
Tagovailoa is 17-of-21 for 151 yards and the Panthers will need to slow down the Miami passing game to finish off a comeback.
The Dolphins got their first win of the season on Monday night and their bid for a second one is off to a good start.
Running back De’Von Achane caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on the first play of the second quarter and the Dolphins now lead the Panthers 10-0.
Achane’s touchdown capped a drive that started after a takeaway by the Dolphins defense. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young lost the football as edge rusher Bradley Chubb beared down on him and Chubb recovered to set the Dolphins up near midfield. The Dolphins converted a fourth down on a pass to tight end Darren Waller and Tagovailoa hooked up with Jaylen Waddle to convert two third downs before the score.
Young’s fumble came on the only Panthers possession of the first quarter and they’ll need more on both sides of the ball after Sunday’s shaky start.
The Ravens ruled six players out on Friday, so they knew they’d be shorthanded for Sunday’s game against the Texans but there was a question about how many other players would be unavailable due to injuries.
Four players were listed as questionable, including safety Kyle Hamilton and left tackle Ronnie Stanley. Both of them are on the inactive list, so the Ravens are very thin on stars as they join quarterback Lamar Jackson, linebacker Roquan Smith, and cornerback Marlon Humphrey on the sideline.
Cooper Rush will get the start at quarterback and several other backups will have to shine if the Ravens are going to avoid a 1-4 start.
Texans at Ravens
Texans: WR Braxton Berrios, QB Graham Mertz, CB Zion Childress, LB Christian Harris, OL Jarrett Kingston, OL Trent Brown
Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson, S Kyle Hamilton, LB Roquan Smith, T Ronnie Stanley, CB Marlon Humphrey, CB Chidobe Awuzie, FB Patrick Ricard
Giants at Saints
Giants: LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., OL Evan Neal, DL Elijah Garcia, QB Jameis Winston
Saints: RB Devin Neal, CB Isaac Yiadom, OL Cesar Ruiz, T Xavier Truss, DT Khristian Boyd, DE Chase Young
Cowboys at Jets
Cowboys: WR KaVontae Turpin, RB Miles Sanders, OL Tyler Booker, OL Tyler Guyton, WR CeeDee Lamb, DT Jay Toia, DE Marshawn Kneeland
Jets: EDGE Jermaine Johnson, CB Michael Carter II, RB Kene Nwangwu, OL Esa Pole, TE Stone Smartt, TE Jelani Woods, DT Leonard Taylor
Broncos at Eagles
Broncos: DE Sai’vion Jones, LB Que Robinson, OL Frank Crum QB Sam Ehlinger, RB Jaleel McLaughlin
Eagles: QB Sam Howell, CB Mac McWilliams, OL Drew Kendall, WR Xavier Gipson
Raiders at Colts
Raiders: TE Brock Bowers, LB Germaine Pratt, G Caleb Rogers, TE Michael Mayer, DT Leki Fotu, CB Eric Stokes
Colts: WR Alec Pierce, QB Riley Leonard, CB Kenny Moore, RB Tyler Goodson, LB Buddy Johnson, T Luke Tenuta, DT Eric Johnson
Dolphins at Panthers
Dolphins: CB Storm Duck, QB Quinn Ewers, DT Zeek Biggers, RB Jaylen Wright, WR Cedrick Wilson
Panthers: TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, CB Chau Smith-Wade, RB Chuba Hubbard, LB Claudin Cherelus, DT Jaden Crumedy, DT Tershawn Wharton
Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill suffered a gruesome knee injury on Monday night, but he was smiling as he was carted off the field, talked to teammates from the hospital, and has already been back to the team facility. Fellow Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle says teammates are heartened by the way Hill has responded.
“It’s always good, you know, got a smile on his face,” Waddle said. “He’s in good spirits. So any time you see your brother with a smile on his face in this type of situation, it’s key. And it kind of gives you a sense of relief.”
Still, Waddle says there’s no replacing Hill, who will miss the rest of the season and may be done with the Dolphins.
“I don’t think you replace it or anything like that. Just him, you can’t replace a personality and a player like that,” Waddle said. “You just kind of remember and know what you’re playing for, know how special a player and teammate he is, and kind of just play through it or just play in remembrance of his energy.”
Waddle said he has learned a lot from Hill.
“I think just his approach, man. How he approached the game is unique. His preparation. How does he go to the game. Just him just being him, honestly. You just take a lot from his prep,” Waddle said.
And now Waddle will do his best to replace the loss of Hill on the field.
Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill suffered a gruesome knee dislocation on Monday night. He had surgery on Tuesday.
As of Wednesday, Hill was still in the hospital. On Friday, he visited his team.
“Tyreek was in the building today,” coach Mike McDaniel told reporters, via Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com. “He came into the team meeting and made sure that the guys were continuing to stay motivated to have complimentary football with 11 players playing as one in three phases over the course of the game.”
It will be harder to do that without Hill. His presence — and his ability to disappear quickly — helped open up the rest of the offense.
Without Hill, players like rookie receiver Malik Washington and unretired tight end Darren Waller will get more opportunities.
“I think we have a lot of capable football players that I’m very confident in,” McDaniel said. “I think when you lose players of that magnitude, it’s never done with one human being. It’s the execution of the overall group at all positions that make up the difference. And I have a bunch of motivated football players. Where there’s adversity, there’s opportunity -- I think that’s kind of our speed.”
Waller played in 16 of the Dolphins’ 58 offensive snaps against the Jets, catching a pair of touchdown passes in limited work. McDaniel said Waller has “earned” more reps against Carolina on Sunday.
