The Dolphins DST begins the season with the Colts and Patriots in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively. That makes this unit a decent streaming option to start the year, but it has a lot to prove before Fantasy managers should consider this DST trustworthy. The Dolphins could have a good pass rush, but the secondary looks suspect even after adding Minkah Fitzpatrick. Considering the Dolphins DST was one of the worst in Fantasy in 2024, we want to see it before we believe it. Draft at your own risk.
Fantasy News
Jordan Poyer: Headed for Buffalo's practice squad
Rotowire
Poyer is expected to join Buffalo's practice squad, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.
Poyer didn't garner any interest in free agency after a 2024 campaign with Miami during which he started 16 games and posted 98 tackles but had just three passes defensed, no interceptions and no sacks. The 34-year-old safety's best football is behind him, but Buffalo's safety play was shaky in the preseason, so perhaps Poyer will get a chance at some point in 2025 to add to his career total of 107 regular-season appearances with the Bills.
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Dolphins' Kenneth Grant: On track to play Week 1
Rotowire
Head coach Mike McDaniel relayed Monday that Grant (undisclosed) is not in danger of missing the Dolphins' regular-season opener against the Colts on Sunday, Sept. 7, C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald reports.
The 2025 first-rounder has been working through an undisclosed issue, which prevented him from playing in the Dolphins' preseason finale against the Jaguars on Saturday. The nature of Grant's injury isn't clear, but his practice participation over the next two weeks will provide clarity on his chances of making his NFL regular-season debut in Week 1. He should see a heavy dose of rotational snaps at defensive tackle alongside presumptive starters Benito Jones and Zach Sieler.
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Mike Hilton: Released by Miami
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The Dolphins released Hilton on Monday, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.
Hilton signed with the Dolphins last month and had been listed as the team's starting nickel corner on the unofficial depth chart throughout camp, but he rarely practiced with the actual first-team defense, according to Jackson. Jason Marshall is currently penciled in atop the depth chart as the expected slot corner.
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Dolphins' Elijah Campbell: Four tackles in return
Rotowire
Campbell (knee) compiled four total tackles (three solo) in Saturday's 14-6 preseason win over the Jaguars.
Campbell made his return to action after missing some time with a knee injury, logging 24 snaps with the defense and nine snaps on special teams. Now healthy, the 30-year-old is all set to enter the 2025 campaign as the top reserve option behind starter Minkah Fitzpatrick at free safety.
Sieler played seven defensive snaps in Saturday's 14-6 preseason win over the Jaguars.
Sieler suffered an undisclosed injury on Aug. 16, and the Dolphins gave a vague timeline for his potential return. He played with other defensive stars Saturday, including Minkah Fitzpatrick and Tyrel Dodson, which was enough to provide reassurance that he'll be on the field for a Week 1 matchup against the Colts. He should be among the best interior linemen for IDP purposes once again in 2025.
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Dolphins' Jaelan Phillips: Two tackles in final exhibtion
Rotowire
Phillips recorded two tackles and 0.5 sacks in Saturday's 14-6 preseason win over Jacksonville.
Phillips has been brought back slowly in training camp and the preseason while recovering from a torn ACL. He suited up for his preseason debut Saturday and was on the field for 19 snaps, an encouraging sign for his role heading into a Week 1 matchup against the Colts.
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Dolphins' Jordyn Brooks: Dealing with injury
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Coach Mike McDaniel said Brooks is dealing with a "minor" undisclosed injury, C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald reports.
McDaniel said Brooks would have played in Saturday's preseason finale had it been a regular-season contest, so it sounds like the linebacker should be fine for Week 1 against the Colts on Sept. 7. Brooks underwent offseason wrist surgery, but it's unclear if the latest injury is related to that one.
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Dolphins' Kendall Sheffield: Expected to miss a few days
Rotowire
Sheffield (undisclosed) is day-to-day due to a soft tissue injury, Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post reports.
Sheffield didn't practice Thursday and could miss up to a week, per head coach Mike McDaniel. The cornerback should be back by the Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Colts.
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Dolphins' Kenneth Grant: Labeled day-to-day by coach
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Grant (undisclosed) is day-to-day, coach Mike McDaniel said Thursday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Grant may not suit up for Saturday's preseason finale against the Jaguars, but his day-to-day label suggests the rookie first-round pick isn't in any danger of missing the regular-season opener against the Colts on Sept. 7. Grant will likely contribute on the interior of Miami's defensive line out of the gate.
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Dolphins' Matthew Judon: Set to join Miami
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The Dolphins are slated to sign Judon to a one-year contract worth up to $6 million, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Judon was brought in for a visit with the Dolphins on Monday, and the meeting between the two sides went well enough for the veteran edge rusher to stick around in Miami. The 2016 fifth-rounder is coming off a disappointing 2024 campaign with the Falcons, when he finished with 41 tackles (25 solo), including 5.5 sacks, and five pass defenses (including a pick-six) across 17 regular-season games. Judon won't be brought in to serve in an every-down role, but he should get some rotational work at edge rusher with starters Bradley Chubb and Chop Robinson.
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Colts' Xavien Howard: Signs with Indy
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The Colts signed Howard on Monday, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
The Colts are dealing with injuries to cornerbacks JuJu Brents (hamstring), Jaylon Jones (hamstring), Kenny Moore (knee) and Johnathan Edwards (concussion), so it's an ideal landing spot for Howard. He spent the entire 2024 season out of the league after the Dolphins released Howard with a failed physical designation due to a foot injury he dealt with in 2023. Howard is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2020, but he turned 32 years old last month.
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Matthew Judon: Visiting Miami
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Judon, who is a free agent, is visiting with the Dolphins on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Judon spent the 2024 season with the Falcons, appearing in all 17 regular-season games (15 starts), and registered 41 tackles (25 solo), including 5.5 sacks, and five pass breakups, including one interception, which Judon returned 27 yards for a touchdown. Judon has certainly lost a step at 33 years old and can't be relied upon as an every-down edge player at this stage of his career, but he still may have some pass-rush juice left in a sub-package role.
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Dolphins' Ethan Bonner: Injures hamstring
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Bonner suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday's preseason game against the Lions, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Bonner will undergo further testing when the team returns to Miami. Bonner has appeared in seven regular-season games over the previous two seasons, logging two tackles (one solo) and one pass breakup.
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Dolphins' Zach Sieler: Out with undisclosed issue
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Sieler (undisclosed) is expected to be out "between days and weeks" but is likely to be ready for the start of the regular season, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.
It's not clear what type of issue Sieler is dealing with, and the indication of an absence lasting "between days and weeks" is pretty vague, but the good news for the Dolphins is that he doesn't currently seem to be at risk of needing to sit out Week 1. According to head coach Mike McDaniel, Sieler likely would have been able to play in Saturday's exhibition game against Detroit had it been a regular-season contest, per C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald. The veteran defensive tackle is slated to be a key part of Miami's pass rush again in 2025 after racking up 10.0 sacks in each of the past two regular seasons.
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Dolphins' Chop Robinson: Returns to practice Thursday
Rotowire
Robinson (ribs) is participating in team drills Thursday, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.
Robinson was injured in Wednesday's joint practice with the Lions, but he's back to practicing the next day. A rib injury was the source of his early departure from Wednesday's practice, per Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com. The 2024 first-round pick is looking to build on a promising rookie season in which he picked up 6.0 sacks.
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Dolphins' Chop Robinson: Avoids major injury
Rotowire
Robinson (undisclosed) relayed Wednesday that the injury he suffered during practice is "nothing serious," Nick Pugliese and Tom D'Angelo of The Palm Beach Post report.
Robinson had to be carted off the field during the Dolphins' joint practice with the Lions, but the good news for Miami and the 2024 first-rounder is that he appears to have faded a serious injury. He'll undergo further testing over the coming days to determine the exact nature and severity of the injury and whether he'll be able to return to practice over the coming weeks.
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Dolphins' Chop Robinson: Exits practice early
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Robinson (undisclosed) was carted off the field during Wednesday's joint practice with the Lions, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.
The severity of Robinson's injury is still unknown. However, the team will be without a major piece of its front seven should the 22-year-old miss extended time. Miami's 2024 first-round pick made an immediate impact on defense last season, accounting for 26 tackles (16 solo), including six sacks, with starters Jaelan Phillips (knee) and Bradley Chubb (knee) missing a majority of the team's regular-season games.
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Dolphins' Jaelan Phillips: Labeled as day-to-day
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Phillips (knee) is considered day-to-day, C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald reports.
Phillips didn't play in the Dolphins' preseason opener against the Bears this past Sunday after he was injured in practice Aug. 2. Phillips' previous two seasons were ruined by serious injuries, first he had an Achilles tear in 2023 and then a torn ACL ended his 2024 campaign.
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Dolphins' Elijah Campbell: Injury not serious
Rotowire
Coach Mike McDaniel said Sunday that Campbell's knee injury isn't believed to be serious, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Campbell played 19 defensive snaps in Sunday's preseason opener against the Bears, finishing with three tackles (one solo) before departing with the injury. Campbell appeared in all 17 regular-season contests with Miami last season, making one start.
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Commanders' Duke Riley: Lands in Washington
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The Commanders are signing Riley to a contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Riley suited up for all 17 regular-season games with Miami in 2024 but he only handled 42 defensive snaps in that span. He'll compete for a depth role on defense with Washington, but the bulk of his contributions will figure to come on special teams, if he manages to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
