Dolphins rule leading receiver Caleb Douglas out against Chiefs

Miami's leading receiver will miss Sunday's game against Kansas City, according to the Dolphins' final Week 3 injury report. Caleb Douglas has an ankle injury and did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. The out designation settles his availability for this game; it does not establish a timetable for his return beyond Sunday.

Douglas had supplied an early vertical threat for an offense that has struggled to sustain drives. The team's 2026 statistics list him with seven catches for 113 yards, the most receiving yards on the roster through two games. Malik Washington also has seven receptions, for 96 yards, and running back De'Von Achane has seven for 49. Ryan Miller has 77 yards on one catch, a touchdown. Those figures show why losing Douglas affects more than one spot on the depth chart: the Dolphins will have to replace both his snaps and a meaningful share of their explosive receiving production.

Coach Jeff Hafley had declined to predict the injury's duration immediately after Monday's game. In the team's September 21 media transcript, he said it was too early to tell whether the ankle would keep Douglas out against Kansas City. The final report is the first firm game designation; a broader recovery forecast would be speculation.

The rest of Miami's receiver group is not entirely settled. The final report lists Miller as questionable after a full Friday practice, and Hafley said Friday he expected Miller to be okay for Sunday. Chris Bell practiced fully Friday and carries no game designation. Washington is the clearest established receiving alternative by the team's early numbers, while Achane has been involved underneath. Those are options, not a projection of targets or a promised substitution.

For fantasy managers, the immediate decision is to remove Douglas from Week 3 lineups and check Miller's Sunday availability. Miami can spread his work across receivers, tight ends and backs, and the team has not announced a one-for-one replacement. Sunday against the Chiefs will show how much of Douglas' early production the remaining group can restore.