Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Suffers ACL Tear, Intends To Play in 2026
10:00pm: It sounds like Tyreek Hill won’t call in a career following his devastating knee injury. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero that his client intends to play in 2026.
“Tyreek’s surgery went very well,” Rosenhaus said. “Fortunately everything was done with one procedure. The goal is for Tyreek to be ready for the start of next season.”
8:55am: It was confirmed after last night’s game that Tyreek Hill suffered a dislocated knee on the play which resulted in him carted off the field. Further testing took place overnight while he was hospitalized. 
Hill’s injuries consist of more than the dislocated knee. Multiple ligaments were also torn, including his ACL, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Hill remains in hospital and is scheduled to undergo surgery later today. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds further procedures could prove to be necessary given the extent of the damage.
Especially if multiple surgeries wind up taking place, Hill’s recovery timeline will be longer than the one associated with a typical ACL tear. At this point, the All-Pro’s availability for the 2026 season is unclear. At a minimum, Hill will be sidelined for the remainder of the current campaign. As a result, Monday’s game may end up representing his final one as a Dolphin.
Hill remains under contract through 2026, but he is owed a $29.9MM base salary which is not guaranteed for that season. With a scheduled cap hit of $51.9MM, an adjustment of some kind to his contract was widely expected in the event he remained with Miami. In the case of a trade, the 31-year-old would have been considered a rental given the ability of an acquiring team to move on after the season. The Dolphins may have been able to generate a Day 2 pick in return for Hill had a trade taken place in the next few weeks, but that is obviously a moot point now.
Last night’s win allowed Miami to improve to 1-3 on the season. The team’s offense enjoyed a second straight strong showing on the ground, but the Dolphins recorded just 177 passing yards against the Jets. Miami’s ability to produce through the air will be tested through the remainder of the campaign with Hill (who led the NFL in receiving yards in 2023) unavailable. Jaylen Waddle will be counted on to serve as a focal point in that regard, with a mix of veterans (Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, D’Wayne Eskridge) and 2024 draftees (Malik Washington, Tahj Washington) in place as depth options at the receiver position.
Reaching the playoffs can be considered an unlikely feat at this point given the Dolphins’ record, but losing Hill will make the task of qualifying for the postseason more challenging. Attention will turn to the progress of his recovery and, later, the question of how Miami will handle his future.
Dolphins Waive CB Cam Smith
Cam Smith will not have a chance to continue a potential bounce-back effort with the Dolphins. The team is moving on from the former second-round pick.
Stashed on the reserve/non-football illness list to open the season, Smith received word Tuesday he is being waived. Two years remain on the cornerback’s contract, but he has not shown much since being drafted highly. The team announced the move.
Overhauling their operation at corner this offseason, the Dolphins had expressed some hope Smith could step up. Chosen with the team’s top draft choice in 2023, the former No. 51 overall pick has only played 153 career snaps. Miami carrying the depleted CB situation it does and still waiving Smith certainly illustrates a lack of faith among team decision-makers in the once-highly regarded South Carolina prospect.
Mostly a special-teamer as a rookie, Smith began last season on IR but did play a regular role during the six games in which he was active. Smith logged 133 defensive snaps, though he allowed a 75% completion rate as the closest defender and did not start any games. Drafted to play in Vic Fangio‘s defense, Smith failed to make an impression under Anthony Weaver and will look for a chance elsewhere.
This is a big miss for the Dolphins, who traded their 2022 and ’23 first-rounders to the Chiefs in the Tyreek Hill trade. Miami has seen the third-rounder from that draft (De’Von Achane) hit, but the Hill trade coupled with the Smith miss depleted the team’s capital.
Miami not seeing much from Smith this offseason also came as it cut Kendall Fuller and traded Jalen Ramsey. The team also lost Kader Kohou and Artie Burns to summer ACL tears. Monday night, the Dolphins also played without starter Storm Duck and backup Ethan Bonner. The team added Jack Jones, Rasul Douglas and JuJu Brents to its CB room in a flurry of late-summer moves.
Dolphins To Sign WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. Off Saints’ Practice Squad
After losing wide receiver Tyreek Hill to a season-ending knee injury during Monday’s win over the Jets, the Dolphins are bringing back an old friend to help the void. Miami will sign receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. off the Saints’ practice squad, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
This will be the second Dolphins stint for Wilson, who played with the team under head coach Mike McDaniel from 2022-23. Wilson combined for 34 catches, 432 yards, and three touchdowns over 30 games during his previous run in Miami after spending the first three seasons of his career in Dallas.
Wilson joined the Saints on a two-year, $5.75MM deal with $2.85MM in guarantees in 2024; he hauled in 20 passes for 211 yards and a score in 15 games last season. He didn’t make the Saints’ season-opening roster this year, though, instead spending time on their practice squad to open the season.
The 29-year-old will now receive an opportunity to return to game action with a Miami. With Hill down, Jaylen Waddle will be the team’s unquestioned No. 1 receiver. Proven options are hard to find after that, however, with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, D’Wayne Eskridge, Malik Washington, and Tahj Washington perhaps taking on expanded roles.
Even with Wilson not delivering on the three-year, $22.05MM Dolphins deal he signed in 2022, the career-long auxiliary receiver has a greater track record than each of those four at the NFL level. Wilson, whose 602-yard Cowboys showing in 2021 caught the Dolphins’ attention, did not eclipse 300 receiving yards in either of his previous two Miami slates.
Realistically, there’s little chance of the Dolphins adequately replacing Hill from within this year. The eight-time Pro Bowler may never suit up again for the Dolphins, who will be able to get out of his non-guaranteed $29.9MM base salary in the offseason. He was already facing an uncertain future before suffering his gruesome injury, which McDaniel confirmed on Tuesday will end his season (X links via Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN and Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network).
It seems Hill avoided nerve damage, but McDaniel revealed “several ligaments including the ACL are part of the dislocation.” A report Tuesday morning indicated Hill’s 2026 season is in doubt, with the future Hall of Famer suffering an ACL tear in addition to the knee dislocation and other ligament tears. This thrusts the all-time speed merchant toward a career crossroads, with an age-32 season coming in 2026. The accomplished wideout had only missed extensive time in one season — the Chiefs’ 2019 campaign — but that will change beginning in Week 5.
Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Suffers Dislocated Knee
11:27pm: Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed (via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques) that Hill dislocated his knee and told media that the star receiver will remain in the hospital overnight. There is no word yet regarding any additional damage to Hill’s leg.
8:02pm: Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was carted off the field after a brutal leg injury on Monday Night Football against the Jets.
The Dolphins quickly announced that he was out for the game and would be taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. Hill is believed to have suffered a dislocated knee, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. If the diagnosis is confirmed, his season would likely be over, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. Ligament damage is also a concern with an injury of this nature, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Bleacher Report’s James Palmer.
[RELATED: Opinions Were Split On Hill’s Trade Value]
Hill went down early in the third quarter on a tackle by Jets rookie safety Malachi Moore. Trainers immediately put Hill’s leg in an air cast and teammates gathered around as the 10th-year receiver was loaded into the cart and ferried off the field. He acknowledged Dolphins fans on his way out of Hard Rock Stadium, as the injury could mark the end of his time in Miami.
Miami will be expecting Jaylen Waddle to take over as the team’s WR1 in Hill’s absence while hoping that 2024 draftees Malik Washington and Tahj Washington can step up. Veteran Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has had a quiet begin to his tenure as a Dolphin, but will likely be asked to take on an expanded role. The team also has five-year veteran D’Wayne Eskridge on their active roster and undrafted rookies AJ Henning and Theo Wease on the practice squad.
Hill, 31, may have played his last snap in a Dolphins uniform. With a $52MM cap hit scheduled for the 2026 season (via OverTheCap), Miami was not expected to keep Hill past this year. The team reworked the likely Hall of Fame-bound player’s deal in 2024, providing a guarantee influx of $54MM. Nothing is guaranteed beyond 2025, however, and the Dolphins did not add any years to Hill’s deal — one originally agreed to upon being traded to Miami in March 2022.
Trade speculation has followed him since the end of the 2024 season, including links to the Steelers and the Chiefs after the Dolphins’ slow start this year. The Chiefs now have Xavier Worthy back and intent to play through his labrum tear, and Rashee Rice is due back from a suspension in Week 7. The Steelers were believed to have removed themselves from the running for the historically elite speed threat due to the latest round of domestic violence allegations against him.
Hill’s ex-wife alleged a host of troubling allegations against him in a divorce filing, though no criminal charges have been filed. That differs from Hill’s past, which involved an ugly arrest while in college for domestic violence, but the NFL does not need a conviction or charges being filed to levy a suspension. Despite extensive off-field turmoil, Hill has yet to be suspended as a pro.
Obviously, a trade will no longer be possible, so the team’s only other option will be to part ways with Hill next offseason. He is due $35MM in compensation in 2026, including a $5MM roster bonus due on March 18, marking a clear decision point for Miami’s front office.
The Dolphins made a big commitment to Waddle weeks before agreeing to the Hill rework. Waddle is tied to a three-year, $84.75MM extension, a deal that runs through the 2027 season. Miami played the 2021 season with Waddle as its No. 1 target but traded for Hill upon hiring Mike McDaniel as HC, loading up around Tua Tagovailoa‘s rookie contract. The ex-Chiefs speed merchant posted back-to-back first-team All-Pro seasons, rewarding the Dolphins for the blockbuster swap. Those seasons also catalyzed Tagovailoa’s belated ascent and provided leverage for Hill’s guarantee influx, but three years still remained on the contract at the time of the adjustment. The Dolphins giving in and rewarding Hill early will make a 2026 separation costlier.
As we covered in our Dolphins Offseason In Review piece, that has been an issue for Dolphins GM Chris Grier, who has taken criticism as of late for his player-friendly M.O. Like the Jalen Ramsey separation, a Hill divorce will be more expensive because of the Dolphins appeasing him with an adjusted contract. Dolphins fans will see a preview of a post-Hill offense in the coming weeks.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/29/25
Four teams are playing on Monday night, three of which made elevations from their practice squad. Here are those transactions and the rest of today’s minor moves from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed from practice squad: RB Michael Carter
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: WR DeAndre Carter
Denver Broncos
- Elevated from practice squad: LB Garret Wallow
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed from Cowboys’ practice squad: LB Buddy Johnson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed from practice squad: K Riley Patterson
- Placed on IR: CB Jason Marshall
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: WR Malik Nabers (story)
- Waived: OLB Tomon Fox
New York Jets
- Elevated from practice squad: S Dean Clark, LB Mykal Walker
With Jason Sanders on IR, Patterson has been the Dolphins’ kicker to start the season. The team used up his three practice squad elevations in the first three games, so he had to be signed to the active roster to play in Monday night’s game vs. the Jets.
Marshall, a fifth-round pick in April’s draft, played a rotational role in a depleted Dolphins secondary in Weeks 1-3. The unit will now need to turn to depth options like Cornell Armstrong and Julius Brents.
Opinions Split On Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill’s Trade Value
The Dolphins enter tonight’s contest with a record of 0-3. Especially if Miami loses, attention will turn to the possibility of changes on the sidelines and/or in the front office. 
Head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier are viewed as being on the hot seat, although owner Stephen Ross‘ preference is to finish out the season with the current regime remaining in place. Regardless of what happens on that front, Miami falling to 0-4 would lead to increased speculation surrounding Tyreek Hill‘s future.
The All-Pro receiver has been linked to trade talk for much of his Dolphins tenure, especially in the aftermath of his decision to pull himself from the team’s season finale in 2024. Conversations with McDaniel helped smooth things out to an extent, but it would come as little surprise if a trade were to be explored at some point by Miami. Should that take place, opinions are split with respect to the compensation in a potential deal.
Jeff Howe of The Athletic polled a number of NFL coaches and executives to gauge the market of a Hill trade (subscription required). Nearly half (six of 13) predicted the Dolphins could receive a third-round pick, which would fall in line with recent receiver deals worked out before the deadline. In 2024, both Davante Adams and Amari Cooper fetched third-round picks in their respective trades.
Cooper was on an expiring contract at the time, but Adams had term on his pact. However, the lack of future guarantees essentially made him a rental for the purposes of the trade. Hill is in a similar situation; the 31-year-old is on the books through 2026 but none of his scheduled base salary for next year ($29.9MM) is locked in.
Hill’s status as a rental (for all intents and purposes) could make him an attractive target for contending teams, especially in the case of a reunion with the Chiefs. The Steelers have also been floated as a suitor for Hill, although the most recent update on that front indicated Pittsburgh is no longer interested in a swap. Price would of course be a major factor in any trade agreement, and Howe’s poll drew responses stating a Day 3 pick is all Miami could expect for dealing away Hill.
Speculation about a trade taking place comes against the backdrop of domestic violence allegations made by Hill’s ex-wife which emerged earlier this month. Hill has denied the allegations, but in the absence of certainty regarding a criminal case being launched or an NFL investigation opening – neither of which have happened as of yet – suitors could understandably hesitate on the trade front.
Miami’s passing attacks ranks 20th entering Monday’s action. Hill topped 100 yards in Week 2 but his other games have been quiet with respect to production. The six-time 1,000-yard wideout has plenty of time to rebound in terms of his statistical impact, but it remains to be seen if that will include a full campaign with the Dolphins.
Dolphins Considering RG Change
Miami’s offensive line has dealt with a number of notable absences early in the season. That includes right guard James Daniels suffering a pectoral injury which has landed him on injured reserve. 
In need of additional help up front, the Dolphins added Cole Strange off the Patriots’ practice squad. The former first-rounder has yet to play this season, though, and it appears a starting spot could remain unavailable on the right side at least. It is unclear at this point who will man the RG position in Week 4.
Head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald) a competition has been taking place at that spot in recent days. Kion Smith received the start in Weeks 2 and 3, but during the Dolphins’ loss against Buffalo he was replaced by Daniel Brunskill. Those two have taken first-team reps during practice, although Jackson notes Strange has also received a look with the starting O-line at both guard positions.
Smith has yet to be charged with a sack allowed by PFF in 2025. In spite of that, the former UDFA has not drawn strong evaluations for his play. Brunskill took over starting duties at the right guard spot midway through the Dolphins’ loss against the Bills, and his performance upon doing so resulted in relatively positive reviews aside from the play which resulted in a critical fourth quarter interception. Jackson adds it would come as little surprise if Brunskill, 31, were to start against the Jets on Monday.
A veteran of 94 appearances and 66 starts, Brunskill certainly represents the most experienced option available to the Dolphins at this point. He has previously worked as Miami’s backup center, but a run at guard would mark a return to Brunskill’s most familiar position. While Daniels continues to recover, it will be interesting to see how the winless Dolphins proceed up front.
Dolphins’ Darren Waller Will Debut In Week 4
Dolphins tight end Darren Waller will finally make his return to the NFL on Sunday against the Jets.
Head coach Mike McDaniel said on Saturday (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald) that the 33-year-old “looks firmly ready to contribute, which is why he will play in the game.”
Waller came out of retirement this offseason to replace Jonnu Smith after he was traded to the Steelers. McDaniel also noted that the 6-foot-6 tight end would add some much-needed size to Miami’s group of pass-catchers.
Waller spent most of training camp ramping up after more than a year away from the field. He was activated from the physically unable to perform list in late August but suffered a hip strain before the regular season.
The Dolphins offense has struggled to start the year with minimal production from tight ends Julian Hill and Tanner Conner. Smith proved with his breakout 2024 that the position isn’t completely ignored in McDaniel’s offense, and the team is hoping that Waller can replicate some of his impact. Waller’s size should help in the red zone, but it’s worth noting that he only has 20 career touchdowns across 63 starts with only one season with more than three scores.
Miami’s offense could make another change on Sunday after an early-season competition at right guard following an injury to Week 1 starter James Daniels. Kion Smith took over after Daniels and started the next two games, but was benched last week for Daniel Brunskill. Former Patriots first-rounder Cole Strange has also taken first-team reps at guard this week and could factor into the picture, giving Miami multiple alternates if their starter – likely Brunskill, per Jackson – falters.
Poll: Which 0-3 Team Has Best Chance Of Reaching Playoffs?
Six teams currently find themselves at 0-3 to begin the year. Managing to rebound from that mark and reach the playoffs has proven to be an extremely difficult task over the years. 
Only four times has a team reached the postseason after starting 0-3 since 1990. Crucially, none have achieved the feat since the playoffs were expanded from six to seven teams in each conference in 2021. Whether or not that continues this season will be interesting to see.
Chances are slim for any of the league’s winless teams to rally into the postseason, but there is of course variance with respect to their prospects of doing so. There is an argument to be made the Texans represent the likeliest candidate to pull off such a comeback, based largely on their defensive success to date. Houston ranks fifth in the NFL in points allowed (17 per game on average) and the team’s losses have come by a combined margin of 13 points.
Improvement on offense could thus help turn things around in short order, but the Texans’ offseason renovations up front have not gone as planned so far. Third-year quarterback C.J. Stroud has not been able to return to the form shown during his stellar rookie campaign, and a number of new pass-catchers are in the process of acclimating to an offense lacking a strong ground game. Catching the undefeated Colts for top spot in the AFC South would be a surprise at this point, but a wild-card berth could very much still be within reach if Nick Caley‘s unit can turn things around.
Houston will take on the Titans in Week 4 in a clash of teams seeking their first win. Tennessee entered the year with far lower expectations, but the team’s performance to date has still left plenty to be desired. The Titans lead the league in penalties (31) and rookie quarterback Cam Ward has been sacked an NFL-high 15 times. Second-year head coach Brian Callahan sports a record of 3-17 at this point, and it remains to be seen if he will be entrusted with overseeing Ward’s development over the long term.
Callahan relinquished offensive play-calling duties this week, and he will now look to increase his involvement in other aspects of the team. Finding success in that regard would no doubt help his job security. It would also, presumably, allow for Tennessee to improve on last season’s 3-14 showing and offer signs of progress from Ward and a supporting cast in need of improvements moving forward.
Another intra-divisional Week 4 game will see the Dolphins take on the Jets. The first half of the upcoming Monday Night Football doubleheader will be key in determining both teams’ immediate futures. Miami was seen as a disappointment given how the 2024 campaign played out. Head coach Mike McDaniel has certainly not helped his standing in the organization so far this season, although a concerted effort to improve the Dolphins’ culture could help stave off a firing for he and general manager Chris Grier. 
Finding a rhythm on offense has proven to be highly challenging in 2025, even with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa managing to avoid any injuries to date. Stronger play on both sides of the ball will be needed if Miami is to reach the playoffs for the third time in McDaniel’s fourth season at the helm. Winning a postseason contest will become a major objective in that event, but for now quieting the rumors about major organizational changes will be the goal.
By contrast, 2025 marks another new beginning for the Jets. Rookie head coach Aaron Glenn and first-year general manager Darren Mougey are seeking to provide the team with long-term stability in addition to ending a playoff drought which dates back to 2010. That effort has not gone according to plan so far, but a key element will be the evaluation of new quarterback Justin Fields. The former first-rounder is back at practice, and he will return to starting duties upon being cleared from concussion protocol.
Fields is under contract through 2026, but helping lead the Jets to the playoffs would greatly increase his chances of landing a long-term accord. It would also help Glenn and Mougey’s standing, although at this point their job securities are of course not in question. Still, a strong first campaign in New York (something which could be attained without a postseason berth, at least in theory) would be welcomed by the duo; a quick rebound from the way things have started would suffice, and it would be less surprising than one from some of the league’s other winless outfits.
New York’s NFC squad is in a state of flux in no small part due to another unwanted beginning to a campaign. Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen managed to remain in place this offseason, but aside from a high-scoring output against the Cowboys things have not gone according to plan. The decision has been made to replace quarterback Russell Wilson with first-round rookie Jaxson Dart, and the outcome of that move (beginning with a debut against the 3-0 Chargers) will be critical on a number of fronts. 
Daboll and Schoen are known to be on the hot seat, and showing potential for a turnaround with Dart in place would go a long way in helping ensure they remain in place. Owner John Mara made clear his mandate for a step forward compared to 2024 (3-14), and plenty of work remains given how things have gone early in the current campaign. If the Giants are to at least contend for a wild-card spot this season, Dart will no doubt be a key figure in the process.
Joining the Jets as a team led by a rookie head coach encountering early struggles are the Saints. New Orleans underwent a number of offseason changes, with Kellen Moore‘s hire being the most noteworthy. The longtime NFL OC was a central figure in the decision to draft Tyler Shough, but instead of the second-rounder handling starting duties it has been Spencer Rattler at the helm so far.
The Saints’ QB setup raised eyebrows amongst some of their players, but Rattler has improved upon his output from last season’s late spell in the starter’s role. Two of New Orleans’ losses, meanwhile, came about in one-score games. A postseason berth was not expected from the team, with many pointing to the 2026 draft as the point where a new franchise quarterback would arrive. Rattler (or potentially Shough, depending on how things play out) could earn an extended look in the QB1 role, however. A quick recovery toward postseason contention would come as a surprise, but at a minimum a bounce-back from last week’s lopsided loss in Seattle will be sought out. Doing so against the undefeated Bills will of course be a tall task.
Only once since 1990 has a team started 0-4 but managed to reach the playoffs. By contrast, moving to 1-3 has been more beneficial (with 35 teams doing so in that same span). The success of this year’s group in recording a first win this weekend and generating momentum beyond that point will make for an interesting storyline.
Out of this group of winless teams, which do you feel will have the best chance of rebounding and qualifying for the postseason in 2025? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and have your say in the comments section below.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/23/25
As teams enter Week 4, here are the latest practice squad transactions from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Elliott Brown, S Patrick McMorris
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: K Ben Sauls, WR Deven Thompkins
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Otis Reese
- Released: CB Jalen Kimber
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Dan Chisena
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Luke Floriea
- Released: DE K.J. Henry
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Jakobie Keeney-James
- Released: WR Mecole Hardman
Indianapolis Colts
- Released: WR Tyler Scott
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OL Roy Mbaeteka, OL Kadeem Telfort
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: WR Lucky Jackson, RB Xazavian Valladay
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Tyron Herring
- Released: DB Corey Ballentine
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on injured reserve: RB Jacardia Wright
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: TE Caden Prieskorn, DL Desmond Watson
- Released: S Jack Henderson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Raheem Blackshear
The Falcons’ kicking rollercoaster took another turn in Week 3 with John Parker Romo missing both of his attempts in Sunday’s loss to the Panthers. Granted, those kicks came from 49 and 55 yards, so Atlanta may have some patience after signing Romo to a two-year contract last week. The Falcons still brought in some potential competition in Sauls, an undrafted rookie who spent training camp with the Steelers and made five of his six field goals in the preseason.
Wright is expected to be out for four to six weeks due to a foot injury, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
Watson signed with the Buccaneers after the draft but remained on the non-football injury list as he worked to get his weight to a more manageable level. He was waived during final roster cuts, but the team hosted him for a workout last week, per FOX Sports’ Greg Auman. Watson met the team’s athletic requirements to earn his way back on the practice squad, according to Auman, and will return just in time for the Bucs’ Week 4 matchup with the Eagles. The massive nose tackle does feel like a direct counter to the tush push, but Bowles previously said (via Auman) that Watson wouldn’t be re-signed just for one matchup and would instead need to be ready to contribute to the defense as a whole.