Jeff Hafley Details Why Malik Willis and Dolphins’ Young Roster Need Preseason Reps
The Miami Dolphins are about a month from kickoff, and head coach Jeff Hafley is already thinking about who needs game reps the most. That list starts with new quarterback Malik Willis.
Hafley addressed the plan this week as Miami wrapped up joint practices with the Washington Commanders in Ashburn, Virginia, ahead of Friday’s preseason opener. According to Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post, Hafley explained why the usual approach to joint-practice reps doesn’t quite apply to this Dolphins roster.
“I talked to the staff about that this morning and, in a perfect world, in these so-called joint practices, you get your so-called 22 starters 30 to 35 reps… but as you go through our team right now, there aren’t many of those guys, so we have to gain experience… We’ve got to see how many reps those guys play today,” Hafley said, per Schad’s post on X, formerly Twitter.
Schad posted on X: “Hafley on why he wants to play Willis and others in [preseason]…” —
As of now Dolphins plan to use Malik Willis in preseason opener.
Why? VIDEO pic.twitter.com/ey7VNeoP3j
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) August 12, 2026
Translation: Miami doesn’t have a deep bench of proven starters right now, so the coaching staff wants live snaps for as many players as possible before the games start counting. That includes Willis, who Hafley has said is planning to play in Friday’s preseason opener against Washington.
Why Malik Willis Is the Center of Attention
Willis signed with Miami this offseason after three seasons as Jordan Love’s backup in Green Bay, stepping in during multiple Love injury absences. He arrives as the presumptive answer at quarterback after the Dolphins released Tua Tagovailoa in March with a post-June 1 designation, a move that Yahoo Sports reported came after Miami spent weeks trying to find a trade partner. Tagovailoa signed with the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year deal shortly after.
Willis has looked sharp in camp so far. During Monday’s practice, he escaped pressure from edge rusher Robert Beal Jr. and delivered an accurate throw to rookie receiver Caleb Douglas on a broken play, a rep the Dolphins’ own team site highlighted as his best of the day. Receiver Tutu Atwell praised Willis afterward for his ability to extend plays outside structure.
Hafley has said the plan, as of now, is for Willis to see the field Friday night. Miami’s preseason opener kicks off at 7 p.m. at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
| Quarterback | 2025 Team Role | Status Heading Into 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Malik Willis | Packers backup | Dolphins starter (signed free agency) |
| Tua Tagovailoa | Dolphins starter | Released; signed with Falcons |
A Roster in Transition
Hafley’s comments reflect a broader theme of this Dolphins offseason. Miami fired Mike McDaniel after a 7-10 finish in 2025 and brought in Hafley, previously Green Bay’s defensive coordinator, to lead a rebuild. The team also moved on from other veteran pieces this offseason as it retools around a younger core.
That youth is exactly why Hafley wants extended looks at players during joint practices and preseason games rather than limiting reps to a small group of established starters. With fewer proven veterans on the depth chart, the staff needs live data on who can handle a bigger role once the games start to matter.
Defensive tackle Zach Sieler did not take part in the joint practice in Virginia this week; Hafley described him as week to week, though further details on the injury were not disclosed.
What’s Next
Miami closes out joint practices with Washington on Wednesday before Friday’s preseason opener. The Dolphins are then scheduled to host the New York Giants on Aug. 22, giving the coaching staff at least two more looks at Willis and the rest of the young roster before final roster decisions loom in late August.
