Team news: Miami Dolphins | Page 4

Tyreek Hill (oblique) not in pads

Also not suited up here for Miami Dolphins

Mo Kamara (protocol) Alec Ingold (protocol) Austin Jackson, Andrew Meyer, Byron Matos, Ashtyn Davis, Cam Smith, Dante Trader

Related Players: Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

It's been quite the tumultuous calendar year for Tyreek, who has buried his running back at one point, his whole team at another, and has been called out by his quarterback on a third occasion. This all comes after arguably his least efficient season of his career. Hill should be considered a mid-tier WR2, even if he doesn't miss any time.

Darren Waller has yet to practice for the Dolphins and it's a "tricky" situation, according to head coach Mike McDaniel.

Wednesday was the Fins' final home practice before embarking for the Midwest, as Miami will have a joint practice with the Bears ahead of the teams' preseason opener on Sunday. Thereafter, it's on to Detroit, where more joint practicing awaits before a preseason Week 2 matchup with the Lions

Related Players: Julian Hill, Pharaoh Brown

Fantasy drafters are also in a "tricky" situation, as Waller was quite literally done playing football a couple months ago before his un-retirement. He'd probably be a pretty easy stay-away if it weren't for Jonnu Smith's monster TE4 performance in Miami one short year ago. Even with the fantastic opportunity, Waller is best viewed as a streaming option in 2025.

Drew Rosenhaus says his client Darren Waller WILL be ready for Week 1. The TE is on the PUP list working back into “football shape” after taking a year off.

The post went on to say HC Mike McDaniel will not comment on players that are not active. Waller, of course, has come out of retirement, after the Dolphins traded for him, and after trading Jonnu Smith to the Steelers, so it's expected that Waller will be the team's TE1. But Waller hasn't played much recently, and not at all last season, playing in 32 games total his last three active seasons. We think Waller has weekly upside at least, and is ranked as a low-end TE2 who should be around very late in drafts.

The Giants get a 2026 sixth-round pick from Miami for Darren Waller and a conditional 2027 seventh-rounder, per source.

Essentially a free pick for New York for a player who was retired, and a low-risk flier for Miami on a player who, at his peak, was one of the NFL’s best.

Related Players: Pharoah Brown, Julian Hill

Waller was a favorite of some as a cheap, late-round dart throw with the Giants last season before he unexpectedly retired. If the veteran were going to come out of retirement, this is about the best place you could land, but we'll see whether the time away from the game will make an impact on his effectiveness.

He certainly doesn't offer the type of upside we would have seen out of Jonnu Smith, but he should be on the radar as a low-end TE2 until we start to see how he looks/integrates during training camp.

Steelers-Dolphins trade, Part II: Dolphins are trading tight end Jonnu Smith to the Steelers for a late-round pick swap, per ESPN sources.

Smith will get a one-year contract extension for $12 million.

Related Players: Pat Freiermuth, Pharoah Brown, Julian Hill

What's good for the Steelers offense isn't necessarily a good thing for fantasy. Freiermuth is coming off a career-high 65 receptions, but even with a lack of a bona fide WR2 in Pittsburgh, it's doubtful he hits that number with Smith in town. This obviously means Smith will have to fight for targets as well, and puts both of their TE1 outcomes in question. Jonnu, at least, has familiarity with Arthur Smith, so we can envision usable weeks, just not nearly as many as he would have had in Miami.

The TE options leftover in Miami can be safely avoided, unless they make a move for another guy. Malik Washington becomes slightly more palatable as a (very) late-round dart throw.

The Dolphins have agreed to terms with WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on a two-year, $6.5 million deal with $3.2 million guaranteed.

Coming off a career-high nine receiving TDs last season, NWI is on his way to Miami.

Related Players: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington

Westbrook-Ikhine has popped from time to time over the last couple of seasons, but he did so on a Titans team severely lacking in wide receiver depth. Even if he were to lock down a WR3 role in Miami, the target share is thin behind Hill and Waddle.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was downgraded to doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Browns with a hip injury.

Tagovailoa is going to push to play but it’s looking like it will be Tyler Huntley going for the Dolphins in a must-win game. There is a chance, however, that Miami could be eliminated before even taking the field Sunday if both the Chargers and Broncos win on Saturday. Still, it’s yet another setback for Tagovailoa after his concussion earlier this season. Miami also elevated Skylar Thompson from the practice squad.

Dolphins WRs Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle (knee) are both questionable for Sunday vs. Cleveland.

Related Players: Malik Washington, River Cracraft, Jonnu Smith

Waddle feels like the more likely candidate to miss, but it's been reported that Tyreek has been playing through ailments through most of the season. Consider Hill a WR2 if he suits up.

McDaniel non-committal on whether Jaylen Waddle (knee) will practice this week: "I'm expecting to get everything from Waddle that he can do... I've [talked to] the trainer to make sure we protect him from himself. We will see how the week progresses. I don't know exactly what it will look like."

Waddle owners should probably not count on Waddle for Week 17, or at the very least have a backup plan. Waddle and the Dolphins play the Browns in the later window on Sunday so it could further complicate things for owners who were hoping to play him.

Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill (wrist/personal) was limited in practice today and is now questionable for Sunday vs. San Francisco.

WR Jaylen Waddle (knee) didn't practice all week and is doubtful.

Related Players: Jonnu Smith, Malik Washington, River Cracraft

We're assuming Hill will be fine by kickoff, but it's definitely a situation worth keeping an eye on. He's currently projected as a WR2, with Jonnu Smith possibly absorbing even more work with Waddle unlikely to see the field.