Jalen Tolbert will have to wait for his first regular-season snap with the Miami Dolphins.
The veteran wide receiver, the most established pass catcher Miami added this offseason, was the headliner on the team’s six-player inactive list for the Week 1 game against Las Vegas. Tolbert was joined by quarterback Brady Cook, who is serving as the emergency third quarterback.
Miami’s other inactives were cornerback Reese Taylor, guard DJ Campbell, tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick and tight end Justin Joly.
Taylor, Godrick and Joly were all claimed off waivers after the NFL’s August 30 cutdown to 53 players, so their presence on the inactive list didn’t come as much of a surprise. Godrick and Campbell also were expected to sit because Miami is carrying 10 offensive linemen on the active roster, more than the usual eight available on game day, and they’re the least established players in that group.
Earlier Sunday, the projected inactive list matched every name except Taylor, who was expected to be active instead of safety Julius Wood.
Miami also elevated edge defender Clelin Ferrell from the practice squad on Saturday, setting up his Dolphins debut against the team that selected him fourth overall in the 2019 NFL draft.
For Las Vegas, the biggest absence is tight end Brock Bowers, who was ruled out after it was revealed he underwent a knee procedure.
Aidan O'Connell will be the emergency third quarterback for the Raiders, which means first overall pick Fernando Mendoza would enter the game if something happened to starter Kirk Cousins.
The Raiders’ other inactives are cornerback Darrell Luter Jr., safety Dalton Johnson, linebacker Cody Lindenberg, guard Bryce Cabeldue and defensive tackle J.J. Pegues.
In Other News...
Dolphins Suddenly Have A Week 1 Pass Rush Twist Fans Need To See
The Dolphins are already juggling long-term cap concerns, but for now the focus is on what they can get out of their pass rush in Week 1 against the Raiders on Sept. 13. Miami activated defensive end Clelin Ferrell to the active roster for the game, giving the defense another veteran body up front as the team prepares to open the season with several rookies also expected to see the field.
It is a reminder of how much turnover and uncertainty still sits around this roster, even before the first snap matters. Miamis 2026 cap picture is already lopsided, with more money tied up in players not currently on the roster than those who are, so every live rep from a player like Ferrell carries a little extra weight as the Dolphins try to sort out which pieces can actually help them now. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Face Tanking Talk Again As Their Rebuild Gets Tested
Talk of tanking has started to hover around the Dolphins again, this time with the franchise trying to work through a difficult roster and cap picture while also putting real pieces in place for the future. Miami still carries significant dead money from Tua Tagovailoas contract, and the front office has been busy making moves that point more toward stabilization than teardown, including signing quarterback Malik Willis and keeping DeVon Achane in the fold.
For a team that has already lived through accusations of intentional losing back in 2019, the optics matter almost as much as the record. The Dolphins are trying to sell a different story now, one built on rebuilding and a new culture rather than short-term sacrifice, but any season that starts with cap stress and quarterback uncertainty is going to invite the same old questions until the on-field results quiet them. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Opener Could Leave Several Depth Pieces Watching From The Sideline
The Dolphins head into their opener with a healthier roster than many teams can claim this time of year, and the clearest early issue is not who is hurt but who simply will not dress. Miami had only four players on its injury report who fully participated in recent practices, leaving the club with some real flexibility as it prepares for the Raiders.
Even so, the game-day limit means at least five players have to sit, and the bottom of the roster is where the squeeze will be felt. Clelin Ferrells elevation to the 53-man roster gives Miami another active body, but it also points to a familiar Week 1 reality for depth pieces like Justin Joly, Jackson Woodard, Julius Wood, Ryan Miller and Malik Herring, who are expected to be on the inactive list as the Dolphins sort out roles and developmental priorities. [Read more 🡒]