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Miami Dolphins News & Rumors

CB Tre Hawkins Drawing Interest

October 6th, 2025 at 2:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

Injuries limited Tre Hawkins to three games last season and left him off the Giants’ roster following training camp this summer. The free agent cornerback is unsigned at this point, but that could soon change.

Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports Hawkins is making progress in his recovery from the hamstring injury he dealt with during training camp. The Giants ultimately waived him with an injury designation, ending his New York tenure but allowing Hawkins to sign with a new team after a specified period. According to Wilson, the list of Hawkins suitors consists of the 49ers, Ravens, Lions, Dolphins and Colts.

Cornerback represents an area of need to varying extents in the case of all five of those teams. Miami moved on from Kendall Fuller (through release) and Jalen Ramsey (through trade) this offseason. The CB spot remained a question through training camp and into the season, and a number of injuries have now piled up. As such, a Hawkins signing could result in immediate playing time.

That is also the case for teams like Indianapolis (with Xavien Howard recently being moved to the reserve/Retired list) and Detroit (with D.J. Reed currently residing on injured reserve). Baltimore’s defense includes several key missing contributors. That includes cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Chidobe Awuzie, both of whom were sidelined yesterday and could miss further game action.

San Francisco’s secondary has seen the likes of Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green handle full-time starting roles as expected. Depth is always sought out in the middle of the season, though, and with a 4-1 record the NFC West leaders represent a logical candidate to pursue multiple additions during the campaign. With nearly $24MM in cap space, the 49ers could certainly afford to take multiple fliers on free agents.

Hawkins, 25, saw part-time usage on defense and special teams during his rookie season. The former sixth-rounder saw his snap share increase to 40% the following year, but he was only available for 89 snaps. Given today’s update, a number of teams certainly see upside in this case in addition to an encouraging outlook on the health front. It will be interesting to see how many visits Hawkins makes over the coming days given his list of suitors.

Dolphins Expected To Release Tyreek Hill In 2026

October 4th, 2025 at 10:06pm CST by Connor Byrne

After Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill suffered a season-ending knee injury in a win over the Jets on Monday, agent Drew Rosenhaus made it clear that his client wants to continue his career in Miami in 2026. It doesn’t appear Hill will get his wish, though. The Dolphins are expected to release the eight-time Pro Bowler before the new league year begins in March, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports.

Even before Hill underwent surgery for a catastrophic injury (a dislocation and multiple ligament tears), it appeared his time in Miami was in jeopardy of ending soon. Hill may have been a trade candidate before the Nov. 4 deadline had he stayed healthy. He’ll now finish the year with the Dolphins, but they’ll then have to rework his contract or release him.

The 2026 campaign will be the last season of Hill’s current deal — a three-year, $90MM pact agreed to as a summer 2024 reworking. Hill has a bloated $51.9MM cap hit and a nonguaranteed base salary of $29.9MM for next season. A good portion of Hill’s salary ($11MM) and a $5MM roster bonus will become guaranteed if he’s still on the Dolphins’ roster on the third day of the league year.

Those figures obviously aren’t going to work for Miami, especially in the wake of Hill’s injury. It’s in question whether he’ll even be able to pass a physical in March, Jones notes. Releasing him then would still leave the Dolphins with a $15.5MM cap hit, but it’s nonetheless the most likely outcome.

Assuming the Dolphins release Hill and he’s healthy enough to play next year, they could still bring him back for a fifth season at a more team-friendly price. However, as Jones points out, there’s no guarantee the Dolphins’ current regime of general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel will stick around in 2026. At 1-3, the Dolphins are on track to miss the playoffs for the second year in a row. That could lead owner Stephen Ross to go in another direction in the front office and/or on the sidelines.

A new group of decision makers may be more inclined to move on from Hill, whose issues extend beyond recovering from a serious injury. He’s also a soon-to-be 32-year-old with declining production and significant off-field baggage, including domestic violence allegations that came to light in September.

Trade Candidate: Jaelan Phillips

October 3rd, 2025 at 10:20pm CST by Ely Allen

While a lot of the focus in Miami right now is on the loss of star wideout Tyreek Hill, the attrition might not stop there. The trade market appears to be hungry for pass rushers, and the Dolphins may just be willing to open one up to the crowd in fifth-year outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips.

The team’s second first-round pick in 2021, Phillps didn’t have to go far after finishing out his collegiate career at The U. A five-star recruit out of Redlands East Valley HS in southern California, Phillips first committed to play at nearby UCLA. He made an immediate impact as a true freshman before seeing his sophomore season come to an early end after only four games because of a season-ending concussion.

After being dealt multiple other injuries, including some from being hit by a car while on a moped, Phillips followed advice to medically retire from the sport. After the school year ended, though, Phillips transferred to Miami (FL), where he intended to return to football. He sat out the 2019 season, as required by the NCAA transfer rules at that time, before delivering a second-team All-American season for the Hurricanes. He opted to forgo his eligibility and was drafted 18th overall by Miami.

Phillips came swinging out the gate for the Dolphins. Rotating in off the bench most of the time as a rookie, Phillips’ 8.5 sacks were a half-sack away from the team lead, which he did achieve with seven sacks in his sophomore campaign. Over those first two years, in addition to the 15.5 sacks, Phillips compiled 17 tackles for loss, 41 quarterback hits, three pass deflections, three fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble.

In 2023, Phillips looked to be on pace for career-defining year. After missing three of the team’s first five games, he went on a six-game tear. In eight games total, Phillips had racked up 6.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss. With six games left in the season, Phillips looked certain to achieve some new career highs. Instead, a torn Achilles tendon ended his season.

The Dolphins exercised Phillips’ fifth-year option, giving themselves a bit more time to see how he might recover and rejoin the team, and he worked hard to make his way back to the field in time for some training camp. He had overcome injury again and was ready to reap his reward. Unfortunately, Phillips’ injury troubles did not stay at bay for long. In just the fourth week of the 2024 season, Phillips suffered a partially torn ACL that would end that season, as well.

After three and a half healthy seasons of high-level play, it seemed as if Phillips had beaten his injury demons, coming back from the brink of football retirement to become a first-round pick and an NFL starter. In the past two years, though, the medical red flags from his past have begun to stick again.

Still, Phillips is healthy today. Once again working his way back to the field for the start of the regular season, Phillips has started every game so far for Miami and hasn’t appeared on a single injury report. He hasn’t amassed a sack, tackle for loss, or quarterback hit this year, but the Dolphins have been slow to work him back up to the volume of snaps he was playing back in 2022.

If a team is willing to give up some draft compensation for a partial-year rental of Phillips, it seems Miami would be more than willing to oblige. With Phillips on the final year of his contract, there’s a chance he could earn a lucrative deal in free agency if the team that trades for him doesn’t extend or re-sign him. If so, that team could potentially earn a compensatory pick for losing him.

The Dolphins, too, could just wait for the compensatory reward of letting Phillips walk in free agency, but according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports, Miami would prefer to get a pick for the 2026 NFL Draft now rather than wait for the comp pick in 2027. Plus, because of the comp pick potential, they can ask for a bit more in draft compensation, though it may be a wash as the team receiving him would be taking on more than half of the $13.25MM base salary he’s due this year on his fifth-year option.

So, what teams might be interested in acquiring the 26-year-old with a bit of an injury history? It would likely be a team that is struggling to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and knowing the short-term nature of his deal, they could be hoping to contend this year. The 49ers fit that bill, considering their 18 pressures are good for second-worst in the NFL, despite the fact that they are one of only two teams to have played five games this year. The Commanders, Chiefs, and Eagles are also playoff-hopeful teams who currently sport middle-of-the-road pass rush numbers.

Regardless, there may not be much of a future for Phillips in Miami. Even if he could work his way past a slow start and finish the season strong, his brutal injury history may dissuade a Dolphins front office that has already watched him miss a good portion of the last two seasons. Counterintuitively, a brighter future for Phillips may await him outside of Miami.

Tyreek Hill “Would Love To Stay” With Dolphins In 2026

October 2nd, 2025 at 6:12pm CST by Ben Levine

When Tyreek Hill is ready to return from his devastating knee injury, the wideout is hoping he’ll still be a member of the Dolphins. During a recent appearance on WSVN 7 in Miami, agent Drew Rosenhaus said his client “would love to stay with the Dolphins.”

[RELATED: Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Suffers ACL Tear]

“We would love to get together with them after the season and figure something out that works for both sides and continue his career here in Miami. There’s no reason why we can’t,” Rosenhaus said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). “…We will roll up our sleeves on our end. And if the Dolphins are willing, we will find a number that works for everyone.”

Even if Hill didn’t suffer a dislocated knee and numerous ligament tears, he was always destined to see a revised contract in order to stick in Miami. The receiver is attached to an untenable $51.9MM cap hit for the 2026 season, and he’s due $29.9MM in actual earnings. As Jackson notes, none of that money is guaranteed until the middle of March, at which point Hill will be owed $11MM (along with a $5MM signing bonus).

If the Dolphins decide to simply move on from Hill, then the team will still take a significant financial hit. If the receiver is cut before his $11MM is due in March, the Dolphins would be left with a $15.5MM cap hit.

While Hill may have a desire to stick with the Dolphins, there’s no guarantee that the feeling is mutual. The player’s recovery from the injury is obviously a major concern; Rosenhaus noted that Hill suffered more than just a dislocation and a torn ACL. There’s also the matter of the player’s declining production (Hill finished 2024 with his worst per-game receiving stats since his rookie campaign) and his off-the-field issues (which included recent domestic violence allegations and his public flirtation with a Miami exit). Hill was also mentioned as a potential trade candidate prior to his injury, so a divorce wouldn’t be completely unfounded.

Either way, it sounds like Hill is very committed to returning to the field in 2026, even if it doesn’t come with the Dolphins. We heard recently that the wideout intends to keep playing next season, and Rosenhaus said during his WSVN 7 appearance that his client should be lined up for a full recovery.

“The surgery went well. All of the torn ligaments, the injuries, went back in a place naturally,” Rosenhaus said (via Jackson). “There’s no nerve damage, no blood flow issues, no broken bones. The goal is for him to be back to himself for the start of next season.”

Colts CB Xavien Howard To Retire

October 1st, 2025 at 10:25pm CST by Ely Allen

Xavien Howard‘s return to football was brief one. After eight years in Miami and a year away from the game, Howard’s new venture with the Colts has ended after four games as Indianapolis placed the 32-year-old cornerback on the reserve/retired list today.

A four-time Pro Bowler and a one-time selection for both the first and second All-Pro teams over his career, Howard gave the Dolphins every bit of what was asked of him as a second-round pick out of Baylor. An immediate starter in Miami’s secondary, Howard struggled with injuries early in his career but showed enough promise in two mostly healthy seasons of his rookie contract to earn a five-year, $76.5MM extension shortly after his third NFL season.

After a rookie year in which a meniscus surgery caused him to miss all but seven games, Howard exploded onto the scene with 11 interceptions and 25 passes defensed over the next two seasons. After being rewarded with the above-mentioned extension, a nagging knee injury limited Howard to five games before ultimately ending his 2019 season. He came back to have the strongest season of his career, starting all 16 games, leading the league in both interceptions (10) and passes defensed (20), and earning first-team All-Pro honors.

Over the next three seasons, Howard would continue to provide solid pass defense. His interception numbers dwindled as he only picked off seven passes over that span, but his 40 passes defensed showed that his penchant for breaking up plays still remained. At the conclusion of the 2023 campaign, the first in which Howard failed to earn a Pro Bowl selection since his injury-plagued 2019 season, the Dolphins opted to release Howard with a post-June 1 designation as a way to clear out cap space.

Despite committing to playing and even fielding offers, Howard found no place to call his football home in 2024, missing out on the entire NFL season. He visited the Bengals during the team’s defensive struggles last year but never signed with a team. The Colts landed his signature in the weeks leading up to the 2025 regular season, reuniting Howard with the game of football and with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who had coached him for a couple years in Miami.

Week 1 started off strong for Howard, as his former team failed to manage any offense in their first time facing him on the other side of the field. Week 2 brought a sobering reality, though, as Denver picked on Howard, targeting him eight times and completing eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He showed slight improvement in a Week 3 game against the Titans, but Week 4 brought him crashing back down. The Rams targeted Howard 10 times, completing seven passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.

According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, “there were many questions about his viability” after the rough performances, “but no one saw this coming.” Holder went on to claim that the media was not aware of any plans to release Howard, and after missing practice today with a “personal day” designation, Howard came to the decision to retire on his own.

In a statement (via Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald), Howard explained, “Throughout my career, I’ve always played football for the love of the sport. I enjoyed everything that came with being a part of the NFL; it was my passion for the game that drove me. I love and appreciate the Miami Dolphins for drafting me and giving me the chance to play pro football. I cannot thank the Indianapolis Colts enough for letting me continue to live out my dream, but my dream has now changed.”

Howard goes on to explain how much he enjoyed spending time with his kids and family during his year away from the NFL before officially declaring his intention to retire from football. He concluded, “My purpose has been fulfilled in this sport, but my kids are more important to me than football. I’ve had a hell of a career, and even though it’s ending in a unique way, I’m cool with that because, for once, I’m putting my family first, and I’m proud and excited about that decision.”

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/25

October 1st, 2025 at 8:27pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

NFL Minor Transactions: 10/1/25

October 1st, 2025 at 7:56pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the first minor transactions of October:

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Domestic Battery Charge Dropped Against Dolphins OLBs Coach Ryan Crow

October 1st, 2025 at 5:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

In late August, Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge. He was subsequently placed on administrative leave by the team.

That charge was dropped on Wednesday, as first reported by Fox Sports 640’s Andy Slater. While that news will bring an end to the legal side of this situation, there is still an NFL investigation pending. As such, no change has taken place with respect to Crow’s status with the Dolphins.

Head coach Mike McDaniel said (via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques) Crow remains on administrative leave at this time. No changes on that front will take place until the league’s probe has concluded. Sean Ryan began the year handling OLBs coach duties, and that will presumably continue moving forward.

Prior to today’s news, Grethel Aguila of the Miami Herald detailed specifics of the alleged incident. The 9-1-1 call demonstrated how witnesses saw Crow “choking and slamming” a woman he lives with in the building of their Fort Lauderdale apartment. According to the police report, Crow stopped once he realized people could see the altercation. The alleged victim told police she was not injured and declined to provide a sworn statement.

Under Ryan’s coaching, the Dolphins have amassed just eight sacks through four games this season. Improving in that regard will be a goal as the team looks to take needed steps forward after a 1-3 start to the campaign. As Miami seeks an increase in production along the edge, it remains to be seen if Crow will continue in the organization after the NFL’s investigation wraps up.

Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Suffers ACL Tear, Intends To Play in 2026

September 30th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

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

September 30th, 2025 at 3:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

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