Robinson explains why he’s a ‘whole different player.’ And more Dolphins updates

Miami Dolphins admin September 9, 2026 0 Comments

Robinson explains why he’s a ‘whole different player.’ And more Dolphins updates

Among young veterans (second- and third- and fourth-year players), seven potential Dolphins starters will have the opportunity to answer questions (and there are legitimate ones) about whether they’re long-term NFL starters: guard Jonah Savaiinea, receiver Malik Washington, defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, edge player Chop Robinson, potentially safety Dante Trader Jr. (if he starts, as expected) and cornerbacks Jason Marshall Jr. and JuJu Brents (if they start, as expected, in three-cornerback sets).

The one that intrigues us the most? Robinson, because of: 1). How he has transformed his body this past offseason, gaining 10 pounds to 265 after hiring a personal chef; 2). He was very good in training camp; and 3). He says he added new pass-rush moves: “You’ll be able to see that.”

“I know I’m a whole different guy, a whole different player,” he said last week.

Has the weight gain helped more as a pass rusher or run defender?

“I think it’s going to help in everything. You’ll be able to see that Week 1 and the whole season.”

Coach Jeff Hafley’s decision to retain defensive line coach Austin Clark — and expand his role to include edge players, too — also has helped, Robinson said.

“Coach Clark is very detailed about your hands, your eyes, because your power is where your eyes are, so your eyes take you where your hands are,” Robinson said.

The Dolphins must decide by next May whether to exercise Robinson’s fifth-year option that would pay him about $17 million in 2028.

Among 115 qualifying edge players last season, Pro Football Focus ranked Robinson’s overall performance 103rd. He had just 10 solo tackles (21 overall) and four sacks in 417 defensive snaps and PFF rated his run defense below average.

In 2024, his 21% pass rush win rate was the highest by a rookie since Micah Parsons in 2021. In 2025, he finished under 9%, outside the top 100 of all NFL edge rushers.

Among the aforementioned seven starters being given this chance, Robinson might be the most important because the Dolphins so badly need an every-down edge rusher.

(Incidentally, edge defender Josh Uche said Clark has helped him, too: “Coach Clark has brought really good things to my game, especially the bull rush; couple things he taught me I didn’t know before.”)

Sieler’s place

At 30, Zach Sieler is the clear outlier in the Dolphins’ rebuild. He’s seven years older than anyone else in the defensive line room.

He’s the second-oldest player on the entire roster, behind only 32-year-old punter Bradley Pinion.

So did Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan ever sit down with Sieler and explain why he was retained?

Not specifically, Sieler said, but “Sully did sit down a couple of times and just kind of talk ball and what the visions for the team are and plans for myself and the Dolphins and all that stuff. It’s been exciting to have these guys back me and just fully embrace what I’ve done here and say, hey, ‘we want to keep you running, keep going.’ It means a lot to have that, and I appreciate these guys and all that they’re doing. I’m really excited for where this is going.”

Sieler is owed a combined $44 million in 2027, 2028 and 2029, but none of that money is guaranteed.

This and that

▪ Rookie tight end Will Kacmarek, who was initially sidelined and now limited with a lower-body injury, did some work at practice Monday and Wednesday and said he expects to play Sunday.

One goal for the third-round pick is to become known as an elite run blocker. He has studied tape of 49ers tight end George Kittle.

“This is a really competitive, tough league,” he said. “To get that [elite] title is going to take a lot of hard work. But it’s something I’m going to try to do.”

Kacmarek said he believes he’s underestimated and overlooked as a receiver. He caught 15 passes (without a drop) for 168 yards and two touchdowns on a loaded Ohio State offense last season.

“I don’t think a lot of my stats give me justice for what I can do with the rock,” he said. “There are definitely plays for me to get the ball and keep the defense on their heels.”

He acknowledged that some teams might see “me as a run blocker, but I can absolutely do both.”

▪ Rookie cornerback Chris Johnson said he’s not sure if he will be used more on the boundary or in the nickel (where he figures to play when boundary corners Marshall and Brents are on the field).

“Initially I was more comfortable outside, but now I’m really comfortable either/or,” he said. “I feel confident in my abilities inside or outside.”

▪ The Dolphins won’t need to worry about the Raiders’ most accomplished offensive weapon on Sunday. Tight end Brock Bowers is out Sunday and perhaps longer after a minor knee procedure, ESPN reported.

▪ Hafley beamed in crowd noise at Wednesday’s practice. “Offensively and on special teams it’s going to be pretty loud for us” at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Johnson said.

▪ Fox is sending Dolphins-Raiders to a modest regional audience: Miami-Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Naples/Fort Myers, San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, Sacramento and the Las Vegas and Reno markets. Most of the country instead will get Washington-Philadelphia in that 4:25 window. Regionalization maps are available at 506sports.com.

Here’s a lot more news from Jeff Hafley’s Wednesday news conference.

This story was originally published September 9, 2026 at 5:04 PM.