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Miami Dolphins rookie looking like NFL Week 1 starter
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- Miami Dolphins rookie looking like NFL Week 1 starter
NFL training camp creates fake stars every August. Caleb Douglas is starting to feel different. Miami selected the 6'4" Texas Tech receiver 75th overall in April. By the Dolphins' first depth chart, Douglas was already listed with the starters alongside Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert.
Then he gave everyone a reason to understand why. Douglas played throughout Miami's opening touchdown drive against Washington and hauled in a ridiculous one-handed 28-yard catch from Malik Willis. How ridiculous?
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What a catch
Aug 14, 2026; Landover, Maryland, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas (7) reaches for a pass as Washington Commanders cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr. (34) defends during the first half at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
That catch gets the clicks. What has happened afterward interests me more.
Dolphins analyst Travis Wingfield watched Douglas continue winning in practice and specifically highlighted his ability to make explosive cuts and high-point the football, saying it has him excited about the rookie's red-zone potential.
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Now we're talking about more than one circus catch
Jul 30, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas (7) runs with the football during practice at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Douglas has the size to play outside, enough speed to threaten vertically, and suddenly appears capable of becoming the big target Willis can trust when the field gets compressed. And Miami needs exactly that.
Tyreek Hill is gone. Jaylen Waddle is in Denver. There isn't an established No. 1 receiver sitting atop this depth chart waiting for Douglas to develop. The opportunity is right now.
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NFL.com already noted that Douglas and Washington appeared clearly atop Miami's receiver group in the preseason opener. Only those two receivers were targeted during the starting offense's 91-yard touchdown drive.
Douglas will make rookie mistakes. But Week 1 starter? That no longer feels aggressive. It increasingly feels like where this was heading all along.
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