The Dolphins have their 53-man roster set for now, with only the possibility of a few small changes before they open against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1. There were a handful of surprises in the cutdown, but the biggest concern came on the injury front.
Kenneth Grant, Miami’s 2025 first-round pick, was placed on injured reserve to start the 2026 season. That means he has to sit out at least the first four games before he can be activated. For a defense that already doesn’t have a ton of proven talent, it’s a tough setback.
Still, Jeff Hafley didn’t sound alarmed when asked whether Grant has a strong chance to return after that four-game stretch. The Dolphins head coach struck a hopeful tone.
"I'm hopeful," Halfey told reporters. "I was hoping that he wouldn't have to go on the injured reserve. So I would say that I'm hopeful that he'll be back, but we'll see."
That’s about as encouraging as Dolphins fans could have wanted to hear. Hafley saying he wanted Grant to avoid IR in the first place suggests the team believes there’s a real chance he’s back as soon as he’s eligible.
Even with Grant sidelined for the opening month, Miami may be better equipped inside than it is in other spots on defense. Zach Sieler, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers give the Dolphins a trio that should be able to keep things steady until Grant returns.
Sieler is coming off a down season, but the energy around the young group seems to have him buying in. Phillips and Biggers, both second-year defensive tackles, have drawn breakout buzz throughout the summer. Keith Cooper Jr., who entered the league as a UDFA, is another name to keep in mind while Grant is out.
Grant had started to show progress after a rough rookie year, only for the injury to stop that momentum before it could really build. If things go the way Miami hopes, the Dolphins could eventually have a five-deep rotation at defensive tackle once Grant is healthy - something they haven’t been able to say in a long time.
In Other News...
Mike McDaniel Is Quietly Rebuilding Part Of Miami In Los Angeles
Theo Wease Jr. is getting a fresh start in Los Angeles after a brief stop with the Dolphins late last season and a release during roster cuts. The wide receiver landed on the Chargers practice squad, where he now finds himself in a familiar orbit again thanks to Mike McDaniel, who is quietly building out a surprising little Miami-to-L.A. pipeline.
McDaniel has already brought in other former Dolphins players since taking over more influence on the offensive side with the Chargers, and Wease is the latest name to follow that path. For Miami fans, it is another small reminder that pieces of the old system are still moving around the league, even if their next role has yet to fully take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Just Made Malik Willis A Quarterback Story To Watch
The Dolphins are still in the evaluation phase with quarterback Malik Willis, and Jon-Eric Sullivans comments made clear what Miami cares about most. Rather than dwelling on arm talent or athletic traits, the GM pointed to decision-making and the ability to handle the complexity of the game as the real benchmarks, which gives Willis a narrower but more revealing path as he tries to carve out a place in the conversation.
It fits a broader tone around the AFC East, where teams are already thinking about how their quarterbacks fit into bigger plans and longer timelines. While Jeff Hafley was praising fifth-round safety Michael Taafe for picking up the scheme quickly and communicating well, and Aaron Glenn was talking about changing the Jets perception heading into 2026, Miamis attention on Willis suggests the Dolphins are watching for poise and processing as much as upside, with the next step still waiting to be defined. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Rookie Class Is Already Forcing A Historic Lineup Shakeup
The Dolphins rookie class has already turned camp into something more than a standard evaluation period. With a league-high 13 picks in the 2026 draft and 12 of those players already on the active roster, Miami is getting an unusually deep first look at how much youth can reshape a lineup before the regular season even begins. Several rookies are expected to be in starting roles for the opener, and the numbers alone make this class stand out in a way few recent Dolphins groups have.
What makes the situation more intriguing is the historical backdrop. Miami has a chance to challenge franchise marks for rookie starters and All-Rookie selections, which says plenty about how quickly this group has pushed into the conversation. The real test now is whether the early buzz becomes season-long impact, because a class this large only matters if the newcomers keep forcing the coaching staff to make difficult decisions well beyond opening week. [Read more 🡒]