Berrios’ Injury Impact
The Miami Dolphins are navigating some significant roster changes following the unfortunate knee injury suffered by Braxton Berrios during Sunday’s game against the Colts. Berrios is expected to miss the remainder of the season after an MRI revealed a torn ACL. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirmed the injury, marking a tough blow for the team as Berrios was their primary punt and kickoff returner. Although he hasn’t made any receptions this season, his experience and versatility were valuable assets. Berrios is set to enter free agency in March, having recently signed another one-year contract with the Dolphins after previous stints with the Jets and Patriots.
Potential Replacements for Berrios
To fill the gap left by Berrios, the Dolphins are looking at their options for return duties. Dee Eskridge, currently on the practice squad, could be a potential replacement. Eskridge has an impressive career average of 25.3 yards on 18 kickoff returns, primarily from his time with Seattle, although he hasn’t returned a punt in either the NFL or college. Malik Washington is listed as the backup punt returner, despite not having returned any punts in college. Additionally, star receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle may also be considered for return responsibilities. River Cracraft is another option but is currently on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and has yet to begin practicing.
Cam Smith’s Activation
In a related roster move, cornerback Cam Smith has been activated from injured reserve, just in time to meet the NFL’s deadline. Smith, a second-round pick in 2023, had only seen limited action during his rookie year and began the season on IR due to a hamstring injury. The Dolphins had a 21-day window to activate him, and Monday marked the 19th day since he resumed practicing. If not activated, he would have been ineligible to play for the remainder of the season. With Smith’s return, the Dolphins now have seven cornerbacks on their 53-man roster, including notable names like Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller.
Roster Adjustments Ahead
With Berrios’ placement on injured reserve, the Dolphins currently have four receivers on the active roster: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington, and the now-injured Berrios. The team is expected to create one or two additional roster spots this week. One spot may be for another receiver, while the other could be used to activate quarterback Tua Tagovailoa from injured reserve, provided he clears concussion protocol ahead of the upcoming home game against Arizona. This fluid situation highlights the challenges and strategic decisions the Dolphins must navigate as the season progresses.