HEADLINES

Miami Dolphins News & Rumors

2025 Injured Reserve Return Tracker

October 25th, 2025 at 8:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 2024 offseason brought a change in how teams could construct their 53-man rosters while retaining flexibility with injured players. Clubs were permitted to attach return designations to two players (in total) placed on IR or an NFI list before setting their initial rosters.

In prior years, anyone placed on IR before a team set its initial 53-man roster could not be activated in-season. All August 26 IR- or NFI-return designations, however, already count against teams’ regular-season limit of eight. Teams will be tasked with determining which players injured in-season will factor into activation puzzles as the year progresses.

All players designated for return on August 26 are eligible to be activated beginning in Week 5, though any player placed on IR after a team set its initial 53 has not been designated for return and therefore does not yet count toward a club’s eight-activation limit. Playoff teams will receive two additional injury activations at that point.

Here is how the 32 teams’ activation puzzles look for Week 9:

Arizona Cardinals

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 6

Atlanta Falcons

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Baltimore Ravens

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 6

Buffalo Bills

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Carolina Panthers

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Chicago Bears

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Cincinnati Bengals

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Cleveland Browns

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

Dallas Cowboys

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Denver Broncos

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Detroit Lions

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 8

Green Bay Packers

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 6

Houston Texans

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Indianapolis Colts

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 7

Jacksonville Jaguars

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

Kansas City Chiefs

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 6

Las Vegas Raiders

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

Los Angeles Chargers

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Los Angeles Rams

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 8

Miami Dolphins

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 6

Minnesota Vikings

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

New England Patriots

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 7

New Orleans Saints

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

  • T Barry Wesley

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

New York Giants

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

New York Jets

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Philadelphia Eagles

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Pittsburgh Steelers

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 7

San Francisco 49ers

Designated for return:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Seattle Seahawks

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Activations remaining: 7

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 8

Tennessee Titans

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Washington Commanders

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 7

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/25

October 25th, 2025 at 5:29pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Saturday’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s slate of games:

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Recently named QB2 Shedeur Sanders found his way to the injury report today with a back injury. By elevating Zappe, Cleveland is ensuring Sanders won’t play tomorrow, since in order to have three quarterbacks dressed for gameday, all three passers must be on the 53-man roster. Zappe will back up Dillon Gabriel, and Sanders will likely be in sweats. Similarly in Carolina, with Bryce Young set to sit this week, Hooker has been called up to back up Andy Dalton.

Both Buccaneers quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield and Teddy Bridgewater, were on the injury report this week, though neither received a “questionable” injury designation as result of their ailments. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that both passers are expected to be available, but with Bazelak taking up a spot on the active roster, it seems likely that only one other quarterback will be suited up alongside the practice squad callup. Because Bazelak’s not on the 53-man roster, only two passers can be active. Tampa Bay can still designate Bazelak as the inactive third quarterback, but doing so would seemingly be making this elevation moot.

There is no corresponding move necessary for Philadelphia to add Cooper. The team received a two-game roster exemption after signing veteran defensive end Brandon Graham, so they had an open roster spot.

For Basham in Carolina and Jennings in New England, this will be their third and final standard gameday practice squad elevations. If either of their respective teams want them to play in another game this season, they will need to first be signed to the 53-man roster.

Dolphins’ Jaelan Phillips More Valuable Than Bradley Chubb?

October 24th, 2025 at 4:18pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

After a 1-6 start to the season, the Dolphins are expected to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline.

No position has a hotter market than edge rusher, and Miami has two that could be moved: Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb. Teams are interested in both players, and a recent report suggests that the team is more likely to deal them than wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The Eagles are thought to be pursuing an edge rusher, and both Phillips and Chubb spent time under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic.

Phillips is believed to have more value, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The 2021 first-rounder was an ascending player before season-ending injuries in 2023 and 2024, and he appears to be back this season. He only has two sacks and two tackles for loss in seven games, but underlying metrics from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) indicate a stronger performance. Phillips leads the Dolphins with 22 pressures and a 18.2% pass rush win rate. The latter statistic, along with his 15.5% pressure rate, are the best marks of his career; his closest season was his breakout campaign in 2022.

Chubb has four sacks and five tackles for loss with a similar snap share to Phillips. His performance is a solid return after tearing his ACL in 2024 with a pace that is slightly behind his 11.0-sack, 11-TFL 2023. However, his 15 pressures and 10.5 pass rush win rate (via PFF) indicate a less consistent ability to get to the passer relative to his younger teammate.

Both players could have value to other teams in the long-term, too. Phillips could be an extension candidate for his new team, making him more valuable. However, he could could also net Miami a 2027 compensatory pick if he leaves in free agency next spring. The Dolphins are currently projected to be over the 2026 cap with only 34 players under contract, per OverTheCap, so they may not have enough space to offer Phillips a competitive extension. Given the difficult in predicting the compensatory pick distribution every year, Miami might want to get what they can right now.

Chubb, meanwhile, is due $39.5MM in 2026 and 2027 with no guarantees. If his production so far this year continues, he may be worth more to another team at that price than he is to the Dolphins with cap hits over $31MM in those years. If Miami is planning to part ways with him this offseason anyway, they may want to take advantage of his hot start and move him now rather than risk his value dropping in the offseason.

Despite the interest in their edge rushers, the Dolphins seem hesitant to engage in trade talks with general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel both uncertain of their job security, according FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano. Reports have generally indicated that both are safe, but the Dolphins’ losing ways could force a change eventually.

Either way, Miami should be considering trade offers for both Phillips and Chubbs. It’s unlikely that either can take their performance to a level that would change the team’s fortunes this season, and the Dolphins probably need more draft capital for cheap talent more than veteran edge rushers on expensive contracts.

Steelers Interested In Trading For WRs Jakobi Meyers, Calvin Ridley?

October 24th, 2025 at 9:52am CST by Adam La Rose

To no surprise, the Steelers are among the teams reported to be in the market for a receiver addition prior to the upcoming trade deadline. Specific targets on that front have now emerged.

Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reports Pittsburgh is interested in Jakobi Meyers. That comes as little surprise given the market in place for the pending free agent. Meyers is still open to being moved (as he was in the summer), and the Raiders now appear to be willing to swing a trade. Coming off a 1,000-yard campaign in 2024, Meyers is one of the top trade targets at the receiver position this year.

While he will have a strong market as a result, the same may not be true of Calvin Ridley. Per Pauline, the Titans veteran is also a target of the Steelers. Ridley topped 1,000 yards during his single campaign with the Jaguars in 2023 and did so again last year while debuting in Tennessee. The 30-year-old has not enjoyed the same level of success this season with the Titans undergoing a coaching change in the midst of quarterback Cam Ward‘s rookie campaign. Ridley has surpassed 57 receiving yards just once in 2025 and he has yet to score a touchdown.

The former Falcons first-rounder is playing out the second season of his four-year, $92MM free agent deal signed last spring. Ridley is therefore not a rental, and taking on even a portion of his $22.49MM base salary for this year would not be feasible for many suitors. His contract also contains $3MM already locked in for next season with a $1MM roster bonus due in March. The Titans recently granted Tyler Lockett‘s request to be released, so moving on from another veteran wideout as part of a rebuilding phase would not entirely come as a surprise.

Pauline adds that Jaylen Waddle is also on Pittsburgh’s radar, although the Dolphins are not expected to deal away the fifth-year receiver. Waddle (like Ridley) would be viewed as more than a rental in the event of a swap, and absorbing his contract would be challenging compared to other WR options. The Steelers have shown interest in notable wideout additions even before their offseason decisions to trade away George Pickens and add D.K. Metcalf. The team’s depth chart beyond the former Seahawk is a question mark, so a move of some kind would be feasible given Pittsburgh’s approach to the 2025 campaign.

At this point, the Steelers have roughly $6.3MM in cap space. That figure could change if a restructure or cost-shedding move is to be made before the November 4 deadline, something which would signal a trade being imminent. Pittsburgh remains a team to watch closely over the coming days, and in particular it will be interesting to see if Meyers or Ridley become heavily linked to a trade there.

Dolphins Restructure Jordyn Brooks’ Deal

October 23rd, 2025 at 11:19am CST by Adam La Rose

In advance of the trade deadline, the Dolphins have freed up some 2025 cap space. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks‘ deal has been restructured, per ESPN’s Field Yates.

This is a simple restructure, with part of Brooks’ $7.82MM base salary for the season being converted into a signing bonus. The move has created $3MM in cap space. Miami entered Thursday near the bottom of the league with $4.9MM in available funds.

As the trade deadline approaches, teams expecting to operate as buyers are generally the ones which carve out immediate cap space to absorb incoming contracts. Sitting at 1-6 on the year, though, the Dolphins are certainly not seen as a candidate to make a notable addition over the coming days. On the contrary, Miami is viewed as a seller and several notable players have drawn interest.

Brooks is not among them, and today’s move if obviously a sign he will remain in the fold moving forward. The former first-rounder easily topped 100 tackles during his final three seasons with the Seahawks before signing with Miami during his first trip to free agency in 2024. Brooks took a three-year pact averaging $8.75MM per season upon joining the Dolphins.

The 28-year-old totaled 143 tackles and three sacks during his debut Miami campaign. He has continued to operate as a full-time starter this season, and that will no doubt remain the case moving forward. Brooks is under contract through 2026. He is in line to stay in place with the Dolphins at a time when other members of the team’s defense could be on the move shortly. It will also be interesting to see how the team proceeds over the coming days with additional cap room.

Texans Interested In Acquiring Running Back

October 22nd, 2025 at 10:30pm CST by Connor Byrne

With injured starter Joe Mixon uncertain to play in 2025, the Texans have interest in acquiring a running back before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports.

Mixon, acquired from the Bengals in March 2024, was one of the Texans’ top offensive weapons during an AFC South-winning campaign last year. He earned his second Pro Bowl nod after rushing for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns on 245 carries over 14 games. Mixon also added 36 catches for 309 yards and another score.

The Texans have taken steps backward during a 2-4 start this season, and they’ve gotten nothing from Mixon. The 29-year-old remains on the reserve/NFI list with a foot/ankle injury. There’s still no word on whether he’ll play this season. Regardless, the Texans could move on from Mixon in the offseason. Although they signed him to a three-year, $27MM extension after trading for him, none of his $8MM base salary for 2026 is guaranteed.

The Texans are months away from deciding Mixon’s future. In the meantime, they’ll look to improve a ground game that ranks a below-average 18th in yards per game (106.2).

Quarterback C.J. Stroud easily leads the team in yards per carry (7.3), though he has only totaled 20 attempts. Running back Nick Chubb has averaged a respectable 4.2 per tote and added two touchdowns on a team-high 63 carries. However, after an injury-riddled last couple of years in Cleveland, Chubb isn’t the workhorse he once was. The 29-year-old hasn’t totaled more than 13 attempts in a game this season. He ran just five times for 16 yards in a loss to the Seahawks in Week 7.

Rookie fourth-rounder Woody Marks joined Chubb in struggling in Seattle. The Seahawks held him to 15 yards on 10 tries, though he did pick up a receiving touchdown. Marks has scored three TDs (one on the ground), but he has posted a meager 3.3 YPC on 46 attempts.

As for other in-house options, Dameon Pierce has fallen out of favor since a 939-yard rushing season as a rookie in 2022. The Texans have made him a healthy inactive four times this year, including in Seattle. He has recorded just 10 carries in 2025, while Dare Ogunbowale and British Brooks have combined for four.

With just under two weeks left until the deadline, no RB has come up in trade rumors more than the Jets’ Breece Hall. The pending free agent ranks 12th in the league in carries (99) and 13th in yards (448). He could be on the Texans’ radar.

As is the case with Hall, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Browns’ Jerome Ford head elsewhere soon. The former Chubb backfield mate has taken on a diminished role this season with the emergence of rookie Quinshon Judkins. It would make sense for the Browns to move Ford for the best offer.

Graziano points to the Dolphins’ Jaylen Wright as another potential deadline acquisition. After rushing for 249 yards on 68 attempts as a rookie in 2024, Wright has played in just one game and hasn’t gotten a carry this year. Wright has fallen behind rookie backup Ollie Gordon on the depth chart, which could lead him out of Miami and perhaps to Houston before the deadline.

NFL Minor Transactions: 10/22/25

October 22nd, 2025 at 7:36pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s midweek minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Designated to return from IR: QB Will Howard
  • Waived (with injury settlement): T Gareth Warren

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While several players were designated to return from injured reserve today, Norton and Johnson’s designations took place back on 8/26, the roster cut deadline. The Texans are in danger of being without their top three receivers in Week 8. Tank Dell is already on IR, but Nico Collins and Christian Kirk’s statuses for the weekend are up in the air as Collins deals with a concussion and Kirk has been dealing with n hamstring injury.

Not that they’ve needed him, since Aaron Rodgers has looked a bit more effective than he was in his days with the Jets, but Howard is nearing a return to the roster for the remainder of his rookie season. It will be interesting to see where the sixth-rounder slots in on the depth chart as he adds another level of security behind the 41-year-old Rodgers.

Dolphins Place TE Darren Waller On IR

October 22nd, 2025 at 11:32am CST by Sam Robinson

Darren Waller‘s unretirement produced an injury-driven delay, but once the former Pro Bowl tight end debuted, he made a difference for the Dolphins. That has proven short-lived.

Miami is placing Waller on IR, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. The veteran pass catcher suffered a pectoral strain in Week 7, and he will miss at least four games. This certainly clouds Waller’s comeback year, as injuries have dogged him for a while now. Miami is signing Greg Dulcich off its practice squad to take Waller’s roster spot. Chris Myarick will take Dulcich’s P-squad spot, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson tweets.

It took Waller until Week 4 to debut as a Dolphin; a hip strain kept him off the field for most of September. Upon finally returning to action, the former Raiders standout caught two touchdown passes in a Dolphins win over the Jets. Waller added a 78-yard performance the following week. In his first three games with Miami, Waller scored four touchdowns. That matched his combined total from the 2022 and ’23 seasons, but another setback will force a hiatus.

The Raiders found a gem in Waller during Jon Gruden‘s tenure, and the converted wide receiver did not miss a game during the 2019 or ’20 seasons. This brought back-to-back 1,100-yard years, and that production eventually keyed a raise just before the 2022 season. In 2021, however, Waller missed six contests. In 2022, the Josh McDaniels-Dave Ziegler regime was believed to have been frustrated by Waller’s slow recovery from a hamstring injury. Waller missed eight games that season, and the Raiders traded him to the Giants soon after. During his New York one-off, Waller missed five contests due to another hamstring issue.

Waller retired midway through the 2024 offseason, but shortly after the Dolphins traded Jonnu Smith to the Steelers, he reemerged from retirement to help out. Only seeking an NFL return in Miami, Waller signed a one-year, $2MM Dolphins deal with no guarantees. Being on Miami’s Week 1 roster led to that sum becoming guaranteed. But the Dolphins will not see their low-end trade flier provide much, as the 10th-year veteran will end up missing at least seven games with the team — and that is only if he returns from IR after the four-game minimum.

The Dolphins are down Waller and Tyreek Hill, leaving a host of unproven players around Jaylen Waddle for the 1-6 team. No other Dolphins wideout or tight end has more than 100 receiving yards. The team has not acted on Mike McDaniel yet, but it would seem the embattled leader is coaching for his job at this point. Outside of Smith’s 2024 showing, McDaniel has not seen much from his tight ends during his Miami stay. Another uphill battle appears in store at the position.

No Dolphins Firings Imminent; Tua Tagovailoa To Remain Starting QB

October 21st, 2025 at 8:39pm CST by Adam La Rose

After their lopsided Week 7 loss, the Dolphins were once again the focus of speculation about major changes taking place. For now, though, the status quo remains.

No changes on the coaching staff or in the front office are currently expected, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Head coach Mike McDaniel‘s job security has been a talking point all season, but on multiple occasions he has been viewed as being safe from a firing. The same holds true for general manager Chris Grier despite Miami’s 1-6 record and continued regression dating back to last season.

As improvement is sought out throughout the organization, changes on the depth chart will be something to watch for. McDaniel said yesterday that “everything is on the table” in that regard, which led to questions about even a move as noteworthy as benching Tua Tagovailoa taking place. At least for now, that will not be the case. McDaniel later confirmed Tagovailoa will remain atop the depth chart.

That comes as little surprise given the Dolphins’ investment in this case. Tagovailoa is under contract through 2028, and he is already owed $54MM in guarantees for next year. The 27-year-old’s best seasons have come under McDaniel, but even without any injury concerns he has not been able to consistently perform at a high level in 2025. Tagovailoa has thrown at least one interception in five of his seven games this year, and limiting turnovers will be key if the Dolphins are to rebound in the second half of the campaign.

McDaniel added (via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques) he and Tagovailoa engaged in “direct communication” about Sunday’s loss to the Browns yesterday while breaking down film together. He added that is a process which has already been repeated on multiple occasions in 2025. Needless to say, things have not gone according to plan in terms of performance at the quarterback spot this season, leading to speculation about a potential change in the depth chart.

As for the backup gig, seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers saw time late in Week 7 after he overtook Zach Wilson for the QB2 role days earlier. McDaniel said (via Louis-Jacques) an open competition will take place this week for the backup spot, adding he hopes that will not become a regular occurrence. Wilson was traded by the Jets to the Broncos last spring; after not seeing any playing time in Denver, the former No. 2 pick returned to the AFC East in free agency by signing with Miami.

Neither Ewers nor Wilson will be expected to play in Week 8 barring any injuries on Tagovailoa’s part. In any case, the quarterback position will be one to watch closely as McDaniel and Co. continue their efforts to avoid a continuation of the Dolphins’ unwanted start to the campaign.

Dolphins TE Darren Waller Week To Week With Pectoral Strain

October 21st, 2025 at 8:17pm CST by Ben Levine

The Dolphins received some rare good news yesterday. After exiting Sunday’s loss to the Browns, tight end Darren Waller was diagnosed with a strained pectoral muscle, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The injury is not expected to require surgery, and the veteran is considered “week to week at this point.”

Waller exited Sunday’s contest before halftime and was later ruled questionable to return. Considering how the Dolphins season has gone so far (including a season-ending injury to WR1 Tyreek Hill), fans were surely anticipating the worst. Instead, it sounds like Waller’s absence should only be temporary.

After sitting out the 2024 season, Waller came out of retirement to join the Dolphins (via trade with the Giants) ahead of the 2025 campaign. After making his debut in Week 4, the veteran tight end immediately emerged as one of Tua Tagovailoa‘s preferred red zone targets. Through his first three games with his new squad, Waller hauled in four touchdowns, a number that is still tied third at his position.

Waller got into more than half of his team’s snaps in Week 5 and Week 6, so the Dolphins will have to find a solution to soak up some of those reps. The easiest option is to revert back to their TE grouping from the beginning of the season, when Julian Hill garnered a handful of additional snaps over Tanner Conner.

If Waller is destined for injured reserve, the team will likely turn to one of their practice squad tight ends for additional depth. The current options for that TE3 role are Hayden Rucci and Greg Dulcich.

Load More Posts