Dolphins will be short-handed for Ravens game. More moves coming before kickoff
The Dolphins will remain without multiple starters when Baltimore visits Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday (8:20 p.m., NFL Network).
Tight end Julian Hill, who has started all seven of his appearances this season, will miss a second game in a row with an ankle injury. Safety Ashtyn Davis, who has started five games this season, is listed as doubtful with a quadricep injury sustained in the win against Atlanta. Neither practiced Wednesday.
Starting offensive linemen Austin Jackson and James Daniels remain on injured reserve and haven’t yet begun practicing.
The Dolphins listed four players as questionable for Thursday: linebacker Bradley Chubb (shoulder/foot), receiver Dee Eskridge (shoulder), safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (thumb) and cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. (hamstring). Chubb was limited in Wednesday’s practice; the other three practiced fully.
Chubb and Mike McDaniel told reporters on Tuesday that Chubb is expected to play Thursday, while Eskridge said he also plans to play. Melifonwu seems to have a decent chance of playing, considering he returned to last Sunday’s game against Atlanta after sustaining the thumb injury.
As for tight end, Hill started the team’s first seven games but has missed the past two because of an ankle injury. With Darren Waller on injured reserve because of a pectoral injury, the Dolphins have Tanner Conner, Greg Dulcich and practice-squad player Hayden Rucci available at the position. Rucci made his NFL debut last week.
Miami used Daniel Brunskill in a psuedo-tight end role last week, inserting him as a sixth offensive lineman on 15 plays.
Safety is something of a concern with Davis and Melifonwu injured. Davis, signed away from the Jets in March, received modest snaps off the bench during the first two weeks of the season, then started and played most or all of the snaps during the next five weeks, through and including the loss in Cleveland.
Melifonwu replaced Davis in the starting lineup against Atlanta, and Davis subsequently was injured on special teams.
At least one Dolphins transaction will be announced Thursday.
The Dolphins placed cornerback Storm Duck on injured reserve after a season-ending knee injury and can fill his roster spot no later than 4 p.m. Thursday.
Marshall Jr., who is on injured reserve but eligible to return, would be the logical option to replace Duck on the 53-man roster. Marshall has been practicing for the past week and Miami can activate him any time in the next 13 days.
With the Dolphins potentially short-handed at safety, Elijah Campbell would figure to be active Thursday after being inactive last week. Campbell missed the previous two games with a quadriceps injury but did not have an injury designation for the Falcons game and doesn’t have one for the Ravens game.
Fitzpatrick, Campbell and rookie Dante Trader Jr. are the safeties on the 53-man roster without an injury/availability designation for Thursday’s game. Trader was limited by a shoulder injury last week but practiced fully this week. Fitzpatrick, who injured a thumb late in the Falcons game, practiced fully on Wednesday.
All three also can play the nickel corner position, a role that Marshall handled earlier in the season before a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve after Week 3.
The one safety who was on Miami’s practice squad, John Saunders Jr., joined the Patriots’ 53-man roster on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Dolphins defender Jordan Colbert -- a former safety who moved to inside linebacker earlier this season -- said Tuesday that he wasn’t needed in practice at safety this week but could play there if needed.
Ravens cleared
No Baltimore player on the 53-man roster has an injury designation. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was league MVP in 2019 and 2023, will play after missing three games with a hamstring injury.
Two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Ronnie Stanley has been dealing with an ankle injury but is good to go.
Brooks honored
Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks was honored as the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week after producing 10 tackles (including three for loss) and a sack in the rout of Atlanta. Brooks leads the NFL in tackles with 85.
Here’s my six-pack of Wednesday morning Dolphins notes, including a look at when Tua Tagovailoa can run, a trade report, perspective on Aaron Brewer’s excellence and more.
This story was originally published October 29, 2025 at 4:26 PM.
