Dolphins Week 2 Snap Count Observations

Diving into the playing time and its implications for De'Von Achane, Terron Armstead, Tyreek Hill, Jordyn Brooks, and other Miami Dolphins players.

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks (20) pressures Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. / Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

What stood out regarding play counts in the Miami Dolphins' 31-10 loss against the Buffalo Bills in the Thursday night game at Hard Rock Stadium?

We'll start with the inactive list, which was the same as the opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars except for rookie running back Jaylen Wright, making his NFL debut and taking the place of Raheem Mostert, who was out with a chest injury. The other inactives, for a second consecutive game, were CB Ethan Bonner, LB Channing Tindall, LB Mohamed Kamara, OL Andrew Meyer, and WR Malik Washington, who continues to deal with a quadriceps injury.

With the outcome no longer in doubt in the fourth quarter, every player on both teams got involved in the game.

After eight position players saw action only on special teams in Week 1, the number was down to three for this game: LB Duke Riley, LB Anthony Walker, Jr., and T Patrick Paul.

DOLPHINS OFFENSE OBSERVATIONS

• Because his concussion overshadowed everything that happened that night, we'll start with QB Tua Tagovailoa, who left the game after 55 snaps, with Skylar Thompson closing out the game with the final 21 offensive snaps.

• Injuries also impacted the running back position and the offensive line.

• On the line, Terron Armstead was limited to 46 of the 76 snaps after leaving the game with a shoulder injury, coming back with a harness around his right shoulder, and then leaving for good. Left guard Robert Jones, meanwhile, played 40 snaps before being replaced by Lester Cotton.

• At running back, De'Von Achane not only could play after being listed as questionable with an ankle injury, but he wound up getting the most snaps of his career with 47. Jeff Wilson Jr. played 14 snaps before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with an oblique injury. Wright played 18 snaps.

• At wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle got their usual snap count despite finishing the game on the bench with the outcome no longer in doubt. It might have seemed that Hill played less than usual, but that was because two interceptions occurred with him on the bench. His 52 snaps represented a higher count than seven of his previous eight regular season games.

• Durham Smythe got the most snaps at tight end on this night with 33 after Julian Hill earned that distinction (and easily) for the opener. The tight end split actually was almost even against Buffalo, with Jonnu Smith playing 32 offensive snaps and Hill getting 28.

DOLPHINS DEFENSE OBSERVATIONS

• For a second consecutive game, linebackers Jordyn Brooks and David Long, Jr. played every single defensive snap. One can question whether they needed to be there for Buffalo's last drive.

• All four secondary members played all but four of the defensive snaps, which is a good indication that Jalen Ramsey's hamstring injury is no longer a factor.

• The Dolphins had only 45 snaps on defense because the offense had the ball for more than 36 minutes.

• Zach Sieler again had a good workload along the defensive line, though his final count was affected by him not being used down the stretch (and with good reason).

• Chop Robinson had 24 snaps on defense against Buffalo, an uptick after he got 16 against Jacksonville, plus nine more on special teams.

• Jaelan Phillips' snap count went down by ten from the opener (34 to 24), but the score undoubtedly impacted the number because there was zero reason to have him on the field in the fourth quarter.

• On the defensive line, it was more of the same from last year for Zach Sieler, who played 87 percent of the snaps (a total of 46, to go along with eight more snaps on special teams).

We close with special teams, where Duke Riley, Siran Neal, and Quinton Bell tied for the lead in snaps, this time with 19 apiece. Elijah Campbell, who popped up on the injury report late with an Achilles injury, was next with 13, which is a good sign regarding his injury. The offensive leaders again were Julian Hill (11) and Tanner Conner (10).