The Dolphins’ bid for their first win of the season is in good shape at halftime in Miami.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hit tight end Darren Waller for a touchdown and the Dolphins defense forced a pair of Jets fumbles that ended the visiting team’s first two offensive possessions. The Jets were able to put together enough of a drive in the final minute to set up a 58-yard field goal try for Nick Folk.
The veteran hit the kick, which is the longest of his career, and the Dolphins lead 10-3 at the break as a result.
Waller’s touchdown was his first since joining the Dolphins and Tagovailoa finished the half 11-of-15 for 115 yards. Tyreek Hill has five catches for 57 yards and Jaylen Waddle had a 25-yard catch to set up the Waller score.
The Jets moved the ball well on their first possession, but running back Braelon Allen lost a fumble just outside the end zone and the Dolphins put together a 15-play, 96-yard drive in response. Quarterback Justin Fields also lost a fumble on a sack by Tyrel Dodson and the two turnovers have negated the positives the Jets could have gained by picking up 115 rushing yards.
Allen later hurt his knee and has been ruled out for the rest of the night. Cornerback Michael Carter also left the game to be evaluated for a head injury.
Tight end Darren Waller is making his debut with the Dolphins tonight. He didn’t waste any time having an impact.
On fourth-and-goal from the 4, Waller leaped over Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner and managed to get both feet in bounds in the back of the end zone. It was the Dolphins in front 10-0 with 9:20 left in the first half.
It was Waller’s second catch of the night. He has 18 yards.
Waller last played a game on Jan. 7, 2024, to end the 2023 season. He retired after that season but decided to unretire, and the Giants traded him to the Dolphins in the offseason.
He missed the first three games with a hip injury.
The Dolphins drove 96 yards in 15 plays after Jets running back Braelon Allen’s fumble on the Dolphins 4-yard line. Jack Jones punched the ball out, and Minkah Fitzpatrick recovered it.
The Dolphins’ defense finally got its first takeaway of the season. And it came just in the nick of time.
After the Jets’ offense used the first possession of tonight’s game to run the ball down the Dolphins’ throat, the drive ended with no points when Miami’s Jack Jones punched the ball out of Braelon Allen’s arms and Minkah Fitzpatrick recovered the fumble at the 4-yard line.
The drive had been a running clinic up to that point: Justin Fields had three carries for 29 yards, Allen had four carries for 26 yards, Breece Hall had three carries for 15 yards and Isaiah Davis had one carry for six yards. The Jets appeared poised to score after a lengthy, ball-control drive that included only one pass.
And then came Allen’s fumble and the Dolphins’ recovery, and Miami, which kicked a field goal on the game’s first possession, holds a 3-0 lead.
Jets wide receiver Tyler Johnson is a healthy scratch for Monday Night Football.
Johnson played the first three games, starting Week 1, and saw 126 snaps on offense. He has four catches for 63 yards.
Josh Reynolds (hamstring) is healthy again, so he will take Johnson’s spot.
The Jets’ other inactives are edge rusher Jermaine Johnson (ankle), defensive back Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (ankle), running back Kene Nwangwu (hamstring), offensive tackle Esa Pole, tight end Jelani Woods and defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III.
The Dolphins officially will have tight end Darren Waller.
He is active and will make his Dolphins debut.
The Dolphins’ inactives are quarterback Quinn Ewers, cornerback Ethan Bonner (hamstring), cornerback Storm Duck (ankle), wide receiver Tahj Washington and defensive tackle Zeek Biggers. Ewers will serve as the emergency third quarterback.
Bonner popped up on the injury report on Saturday but was a full participant. He had a questionable injury designation.
The Jets elevated linebacker Mykal Walker and safety Dean Clark from the practice squad to the active roster for Monday’s game against the Dolphins, the team announced.
Walker was signed to the Jets’ practice squad on Sept. 1. He appeared in 74 games from 2020-24 with Atlanta (2020-22), Pittsburgh (2023) and Washington (2024).
Walker, 28, has totaled 241 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries.
He spent training camp with the Cardinals.
The Jets have elevated Clark for a second consecutive week. He played 17 special teams snaps against the Buccaneers in Week 3 and had two tackles.
Clark signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in May.
