The Dolphins are getting a mulligan for one of their young, developmental talents who got away
The one that got away earlier this season is, officially, back.
The Miami Dolphins‘ roster churn has been busy despite a changing of the guard atop the team’s food chain midseason. Miami moved on from former general manager Chris Grier at the end of October — but business has kept. The Dolphins, under interim GM Champ Kelly, traded EDGE rusher Jaelan Phillips, have put Austin Jackson and Darren Waller back on the 53-man roster, and added names like EDGE Andre Carter II, CB A.J. Green, LB Caleb Johnson, plus practice squad moves.
The side effect of these moves is, of course, the need for corresponding action to keep the roster at the permitted size. Miami has done well, despite the moves, to hold on to their own pieces — with one notable exception. Former undrafted standout Hayden Rucci, who spent all of 2024 on the practice squad before debuting in the 2025 regular season, slipped through the cracks and was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions. But the Dolphins are getting a second chance.
Dolphins announce roster moves, re-acquire tight end Hayden Rucci to practice squad
The Dolphins are officially getting a mulligan with tight end Hayden Rucci. When the Dolphins opened up two roster spots for Jackson and Waller, it was assumed that the team would look to retain both onto their practice squad upon clearing waivers. Such is typical procedure in the NFL. The Lions, of course, had other plans. Amid some injuries at tight end, Detroit claimed Rucci, assigning him to their 53-man roster.
A 53-man roster spot offers significantly higher pay and, of course, a more direct pathway to playing.
The young tight end never got the chance. He was waived by the Lions this week amid their own juggling of the bottom of the roster. And after Rucci cleared waivers in his second pass through, the Dolphins gobbled up the chance to re-acquire his rights, assigning him to their practice squad like they presumably intended to all along. It would likely be safe to assume that the Lions were interested in doing so as well, but Rucci’s roots in South Florida apparently made for a better sell.
Miami Dolphins 2025 tight end room
- TE Darren Waller
- TE Julian Hill
- TE Greg Dulcich
- TE Hayden Rucci (Practice squad)
- TE Tanner Conner (Practice squad)
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