Dolphins shake up their roster ahead of Week 13 showdown with the Saints, officially bringing back two starters while risking two youngsters to waivers

Miami welcomes back two while risking two youngsters in the process.

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer
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The Miami Dolphins are officially up a pair of starters for the final six game stretch. There’s plenty of pressure to win in South Florida as the Dolphins’ head coach, Mike McDaniel, is coaching for his job along with the rest of his staff. By extension, the nucleus of talent in Miami is feeling the heat to win, too.

So it should come as no surprise that the Dolphins, as this season turns to December, are emptying the chamber and calling all hands on deck. For Miami’s first game out of the bye, Miami is officially welcoming back both right tackle Austin Jackson and tight end Darren Waller. The team made it official this afternoon, opening two roster spots in the process.

Dolphins waive two, officially activate both tight end Darren Waller and right tackle Austin Jackson

Miami’s roster moves feature the release of two young players who have gotten at least sparing opportunities this season to play and move the needle for their respective futures. Kion Smith was a promising developmental tackle back in 2023 before suffering a season-ending injury in the preseason of 2024. He’d been given the first crack at playing right guard upon the injury to James Daniels this season but lasted less than two starts before being pulled. Tight end Hayden Rucci is a second-year tight end who has done well for himself when filling in for Julian Hill midseason.

Now, Miami must allow both players to pass through the NFL’s waiver system before they’re able to entertain the idea of re-acquiring the rights to either player.

The numbers game makes sense for Miami in the sense that they’re welcoming back a tackle and a tight end, so they’ve now released a tackle and a tight end. Jackson and Waller are unquestionable needle-moving talents at their respective positions but both players have seen their careers marred by availability issues. The bet the Dolphins are now making is that both will be able to string together six weeks of available play — and if they’re right, it should offset the risk of exposing both Rucci and Smith’s rights to the rest of the league.

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