Dolphins elevated cornerback Isaiah Johnson and reclaimed Hayden Rucci
The Miami Dolphins not only elevated a player to the 53-man roster the team has invested two seasons into, but they also re-acquired a tight end the coaches have spent a significant portion of time developing.
On Friday the Dolphins placed linebacker Caleb Johnson on injured reserve because of the shoulder injury he suffered in last Sunday’s 34-10 win over the New York Jets, and used the vacant spot on the 53-man roster to call safety Isaiah Johnson up from the practice squad.
The Dolphins also re-acquired tight end Hayden Rucci, a blocking specialist the team has spent the majority of the past two seasons developing. Miami exposed Rucci to the waiver wire on Nov. 29 when they elevated right tackle Austin Jackson and tight end Darren Waller back to the active roster after their stint on injured reserve.
Rucci was claimed by the Detroit Lions, which had him on its 53-man roster for two weeks, before releasing him on Dec. 10. Rucci’s release was a point of frustration for tight end coach Jon Embree because of the progress that Rucci had been making in his second season.
“I said words that my mother would not be happy with,” Embree said last week. “You never know who needs what, and who might make a claim. You got to go with the odds, and they got us this time.”
Miami seemingly made Rucci an offer he couldn’t refuse when the bidding started for practice squad spots when no other team claimed him on Thursday. This will be the former Wisconsin Badgers third stint on the Dolphins practice squad. He was part of that developmental unit in 2024, and this season before Miami signed him to the active roster on Nov. 8.
Johnson, a college cornerback at Dartmouth and Syracuse whom the Dolphins converted to safety this season, has been on and off the Dolphins practice squad for two seasons. He’s played in three games this season - primarily on special teams - and had no more practice squad elevations to use.
Rucci, who has played in four games for the Dolphins this season, is also primarily used on special teams. But he has taken 39 offensive snaps.
Considering the Dolphins allowed the Jets to return a punt 78-yards for a touchdown last week, Miami’s special teams unit could use some tightening up, especially if Elijah Campbell’s ankle/knee injury prevents him from playing. Campbell is the Dolphins’ top special teams contributor because he’s a force as Miami’s gunner, which is the position that runs downfield covering punts while usually taking on two blockers.
