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The Miami Dolphins did not exactly hand Jacob Rodriguez a starting linebacker job. He went out and made it hard to keep him off the field. The second-round rookie has gone from learning the defense to potentially running it in a matter of months. Now, with Tyrel Dodson gone, Rodriguez is lined up next to Jordyn Brooks in the middle of the Dolphins defense, and Brooks already has a pretty good idea of what the rookie brings. Jacob Rodriguez Is Proving He’s More Than Just A Rookie Brooks called Rodriguez a “rookie vet” on Tuesday, a pretty strong label for a player who has not even played his first regular-season snap, however, it fits what the Dolphins have seen since Rodriguez arrived as the No. 43 pick in April. “He came in very knowledgeable of the game, very mature … He’s just gotten better and better since OTAs” Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks called Jacob Rodriguez a "rookie vet" and credited the second-round pick's maturity: "He came in very knowledgeable of the game, very mature … He's just gotten better and better since OTAs" — Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) September 1, 2026 That maturity is becoming more important by the day. Rodriguez is not simply fighting for snaps anymore but has been wearing the green dot at practice, taking on the communication duties that Dodson handled last season. That means getting the defensive call, processing it and making sure everyone else is lined up correctly. For a rookie, that is a serious amount of responsibility. Dodson’s release over the weekend opened the door. The veteran had started 16 games for the Dolphins last season and finished with 119 tackles, making his departure a surprise even to Brooks. The two linebackers had developed a close relationship, and Brooks admitted Tuesday that watching Dodson leave was difficult. However, the Dolphins clearly believe Rodriguez is ready. That confidence has shown up in practice. Defensive lineman Zach Sieler said Rodriguez stood out as early as OTAs, particularly in the way he understood the defense and saw the game from a linebacker’s perspective. That is what makes Rodriguez’s rise interesting. The Dolphins aren’t just asking him to tackle and cover. They appear comfortable putting a significant amount of responsibility on a 23-year-old rookie. Rodriguez has never seemed too concerned about the label attached to his role, either. When asked about starting, he made it clear that individual status matters less than being useful to the team, but wants to be on the field as much as possible; however, if the Dolphins are winning, he’ll be happy regardless of how many snaps he gets. Now, after the release of Dodson, those snaps are coming, and if Brooks is right about Miami’s “rookie vet,” the Dolphins may have found a linebacker who is ready for far more than a normal rookie workload. Related reading: 3-Time NFL Pro Bowler Found Dead In Shocking News Report 13-Year-Old Dies At Football Practice In Horrific Incident – Everything We Know Green Bay Packers: Retain Exciting Rookie Pass Rusher for 2026