Dolphins secure some last minute reinforcements amid their bid to upset the Baltimore Ravens and keep momentum rolling
The Miami Dolphins‘ secondary has been a constant churn of talent all season long. There’s been injuries to tenured starters like Kader Kohou, major injuries to breakout hopefuls like Storm Duck (twice), and the team also saw veteran nickel Mike Hilton come and go throughout the start of training camp. They say that football is […]
The Miami Dolphins‘ secondary has been a constant churn of talent all season long. There’s been injuries to tenured starters like Kader Kohou, major injuries to breakout hopefuls like Storm Duck (twice), and the team also saw veteran nickel Mike Hilton come and go throughout the start of training camp.
They say that football is a game of attrition and Miami’s secondary is a perfect embodiment of that. But now, with their Thursday Night Football matchup against the Baltimore Ravens just hours away, Miami is welcoming back a summer breakout player to the mix — which will give Miami more options to try to slow down QB Lamar Jackson and company.
Miami Dolphins activate rookie cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. off of injured reserve, elevate two off practice squad
Fifth-round rookie cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. entered the season having assumed the team’s starting nickel position after converting from outside cornerback during training camp. The size, physicality, and tackling potential all appealed to the Dolphins’ coaching staff. The potential is evident but the certainty of his performance will now hang in the balance of how well he’s been studying Miami’s defense while on injured reserve for a hamstring injury.
The biggest beneficiary of the return of Marshall Jr. to the active roster may be safety Minkah Fitzpatrick — who is now free to move around the secondary much more freely. He was largely relegated to playing as the nickel amid Miami’s ongoing battle against injuries at that position.
Miami Dolphins roster moves ahead of Week 9 versus Baltimore Ravens
- Activated CB Jason Marshall Jr. (R) off of injured reserve
- Elevated TE Hayden Rucci off the practice squad
- Elevated CB Isaiah Johnson off the practice squad
The Dolphins also announced that they’d elevated tight end Hayden Rucci and cornerback Isaiah Johnson onto the roster for this game against Baltimore. Rucci got some meaningful work amid the injury to tight end Julian Hill in Week 8 against Atlanta and did a very admirable job holding his own as a blocker. Johnson was an undrafted rookie in 2024 who has managed to stick with the team. He’s big, physical, and a big-time striker as a tackler.
Miami will again be without Hill at tight end, which makes Rucci’s addition an essential piece of the puzzle. He’s the only ‘Y’ tight end on the roster today — although Miami can (and did) go with a Jumbo set and field a sixth offensive lineman.
Will it be enough? We’ll find out tonight. But at the very least, Miami can gear up to play with a few more names at their disposal to try to push the right buttons against Baltimore.
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