Dolphins earn season’s first win vs. Jets, but lose star WR Tyreek Hill

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins earned their much-needed first victory of the 2025 season, but they lost electric, speedy star wide receiver Tyreek Hill in the process.

Tight end Darren Waller caught two touchdowns, and the Dolphins, without a takeaway in their first three games, recovered three fumbles in a 27-21 win over the New York Jets on Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium.

But Hill went down with a gruesome left knee injury early in the second half that didn’t look like one a player comes back from in the same season.

While defeating the AFC East rival Jets on Monday probably affords coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier some breathing room from the constant pressure they’re under over their jobs, the victory for Miami (1-3) didn’t quite feel like one to springboard a team from its dreadful 0-3 start after Hill’s scary injury.

The Dolphins, wearing their new alternate dark uniforms, won their 10th straight home game in the division rivalry with the Jets, who are still winless at 0-4.

Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has still never lost a start against the Jets, went 17 of 25 for 177 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Running back De’Von Achane had 99 yards on 20 carries in a balanced effort for the offense.

The Dolphins lost Hill early in the second half as he made a 10-yard catch on third-and-8 going to the Jets sideline. New York safety Malachi Moore tackled him by the legs, and the wrap-up put Hill’s legs in a compromised, twisted position.

Down on the field for several minutes as players observed, many of them on a knee, Hill, who finished with six catches for 67 yards, was carted off and showing he was in good spirits by smiling and clapping.

Three plays after Hill was carted off, Waller caught his second touchdown of his Miami debut, a 9-yard catch that gave his team a 17-3 lead.

Following a 43-yard highlight-reel scramble for a touchdown by Jets quarterback Justin Fields, the Dolphins made it a two-touchdown game again with a shifty 9-yard run to the right from De’Von Achane, making multiple defenders miss en route to the end zone.

Leading 24-13 with seven minutes remaining, the Dolphins used Achane and the run game to again go up two touchdowns, thanks to a 36-yard field goal from Riley Patterson.

Fields threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Garrett Wilson with 1:49 left, and the Jets converted the 2-point conversion with Fields on the ground, but the Dolphins recovered the ensuing onside kick.

Miami took a 10-0 lead in the second quarter when Waller, after coming out of retirement and working his way back from a hip strain for his first action of 2025, skied for a Tagovailoa pass to the back of the end zone on third-and-goal for a 4-yard touchdown.

It was sandwiched between two fumble recoveries on the first two series for the Miami defense.

The Dolphins forced their first turnover of the season on New York’s first offensive series. The long drive ended with cornerback Jack Jones punching the ball out at the 1-yard line against running back Braelon Allen as Allen was bound to cross the plane of the goal line had he held on.

On the Jets’ second possession, they went for a fourth down, and linebacker Tyrel Dodson pursued Fields to force a fumble that was recovered by edge defender Jaelan Phillips after the strip-sack.

Allen’s fumble came after the Jets ran 11 times for 76 yards on the opening drive, gashing a Dolphins defense that came in with the intention to play more physically, off the push this week from defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. It didn’t look that way early, until that initial takeaway.

Dolphins special teams also recovered a fumble, on the opening kickoff of the second half. Returner Isaiah Williams had the ball forced out and then recovered by rookie safety Dante Trader to give Miami the football for the series that resulted in Hill’s injury and Waller’s second touchdown.

Before Waller’s first touchdown on the second offensive series, he made his first reception with Miami on the third play from scrimmage Monday, catching a 14-yard pass on third down.

The Dolphins settled for a 47-yard field goal from Riley Patterson to start after a third-and-3 pass to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was broken up by Jets cornerback Brandon Stephens.

The Jets got in position for a 58-yard field goal from Nick Folk right before halftime and sent the teams to intermission with the Dolphins leading, 10-3.

Along with Dodson’s strip-sack, cornerback Rasul Douglas also had a sack on Fields.

The Dolphins, off the Monday night game, now have a short week before traveling to face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

This story will be updated.