Dolphins make four moves, including adding a veteran receiver who did damage vs. Miami
The Dolphins on Tuesday brought back veteran quarterback Skylar Thompson three days after releasing him — this time to their practice squad — and placed receiver Grant DuBose on injured reserve two days after a frightening head-to-head collision landed him in the hospital.
Miami also added former Bills receiver Isaiah McKenzie to their practice squad.
DuBose’s season is likely over after he sustained a head injury when he made helmet-to-helmet contact with Texans safety Calen Bullock during Sunday’s loss to Houston.
The Dolphins said Monday that DuBose would remain in a Houston hospital for now and “has movement in all extremities, and initial tests have revealed positive results. He remains under the care of doctors for continued observation.”
The Dolphins filled DuBose’s spot on the 53-man roster by signing long snapper Jake McQuaide, who had been added to the practice squad in recent days.
That decision was surprising, because long snapper Blake Ferguson is eligible to return immediately, and the Dolphins also will need to create roster spots when they activate outside linebackers Bradley Chubb and Cameron Goode from the physically unable to perform list.
Ferguson, Chubb and Goode all must be activated by Christmas in order to be eligible to play this season.
Ferguson, who has missed nine games, has been back with the team for weeks after briefly leaving the team for undisclosed personal reasons. The Dolphins have used three practice squad long snappers in his absence.
Coach Mike McDaniel said Monday that the team will decide at the end of the week whether to activate Chubb and Goode this week. Both began practicing two weeks ago, on a limited basis, after sustaining serious knee injuries late last season.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins signed two players to their practice squad: Thompson and McKenzie.
A Plantation American Heritage graduate, McKenzie has appeared in 93 career games and started 28 in seven seasons, including stints with Denver (2017-18), Buffalo (2018-22) and Indianapolis (2023).
He has 152 receptions for 1,427 yards (9.4 avg.) and 11 touchdowns, along with 50 carries for 244 rushing yards (4.9 average) and four touchdowns. He also played in seven postseason games with Buffalo, starting in two and producing 13 receptions for 95 yards and one touchdown.
A former fifth-round pick by Denver in 2017, McKenzie — who attended Georgia — has more receiving yards (291) and touchdown receptions (three) against the Dolphins than versus any other team, with 27 catches in 11 games against Miami.
Thompson, who was released from the 53-man roster on Saturday, has appeared in 11 games and started four for the Dolphins over the past three seasons. He went 1-3 when he started, including a 34-31 playoff loss to Buffalo in January 2022, and had two touchdowns and five interceptions in his Dolphins career.
After Tua Tagovailoa was concussed in the Week 2 game against Buffalo, Thompson started Miami’s 24-3 Week 3 loss at Seattle but struggled and left with chest and rib injuries.
Since then, he appeared only for mop-up duty against New England but was yanked after two snaps after a fumbled exchange with rookie running back Jaylen Wright. The Patriots returned that fumble for a touchdown, and McDaniel said afterward that he didn’t like how the team exited the huddle on that play.
Tyler Huntley has been Tagovailoa’s backup for the past three weeks.
This story was originally published December 17, 2024 at 4:33 PM.
