Football is a brutal business. Honestly, we all know that, but sometimes a single play reminds you just how thin the line is between a highlight reel and a hospital bed. For wide receiver Grant DuBose, that line vanished on a cold December afternoon in Houston back in 2024.
If you're looking for a Grant DuBose injury update today, you have to look back at the wreckage of that season before you can understand where he is now. It wasn't just a concussion. It was a moment that sucked the air out of NRG Stadium.
The scene was haunting. DuBose, then a young receiver for the Miami Dolphins, went over the middle—the "hospital zone"—to grab a pass from Tua Tagovailoa. Texans safety Calen Bullock met him there. Helmet-to-helmet. The sound was audible from the cheap seats. DuBose didn't just fall; he went limp, his hands clenching in that terrifying "fencing response" that tells every medical professional on the sideline that the brain has just taken a massive, traumatic hit.
He didn't move for ten minutes.
The Recovery Journey Nobody Talked About
Medical staff ended up cutting his jersey off. They screwed off his facemask right there on the turf. It was one of those "the stadium goes silent" moments where you see players from both teams kneeling and praying in a circle. DuBose was eventually strapped to a backboard, hooked up to an IV, and rushed to a Houston-area trauma center.
Later, we found out just how bad it was. DuBose eventually revealed he was actually placed in an induced coma to allow his brain to rest. He woke up the next morning with no memory of the hit. He basically had to watch the film to know why he was in a hospital bed.
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"I remember Tua going into a throwing motion, but everything after that is just black," DuBose later told reporters. That's a heavy thing for a 23-year-old to wrap his head around.
Where is Grant DuBose Now?
After that scary 2024 incident, most people expected him to walk away. But NFL players are built differently—or maybe they're just more stubborn. DuBose spent the 2025 offseason trying to claw his way back. He worked out for the Niners and the Broncos, eventually landing a spot with the Buffalo Bills in August 2025.
But the "injury bug" wasn't finished with him.
Just days after signing with Buffalo, during a training camp practice, DuBose went down again. This time it was his shoulder. He was carted off the field—a sight he was unfortunately becoming too familiar with. The Bills eventually waived him with an injury designation, and he reverted to their Injured Reserve.
Grant DuBose Injury Update: The 2026 Outlook
As we sit here in January 2026, the status of Grant DuBose is mostly one of recovery and waiting. He reached an injury settlement with the Bills back in late 2025, which technically made him a free agent.
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The shoulder injury from the Bills camp was the primary reason he sat out the 2025 season. It was a massive blow to his momentum, especially after he’d fought so hard to clear the league's concussion protocols following the Houston hit.
Right now, he's a free agent.
The reality for DuBose is complicated. Teams look at his tape and see a 6'2" target with real upside—remember, this is a guy who went from bagging groceries and working at Walmart during the pandemic to being a 7th-round pick for the Packers. The talent is there. But the medical file is getting thick.
- December 2024: Severe head injury (concussion/coma) vs. Texans.
- August 2025: Significant shoulder injury during Bills training camp.
- January 2026: Currently training as a free agent, looking for a 2026 camp invite.
What’s Next for DuBose?
Honestly, the league is a "what have you done for me lately" environment. DuBose hasn't had a healthy stretch of football since his days at Charlotte. For him to make a roster in 2026, he’s going to have to prove two things: that his shoulder is 100% stable and that the lingering effects of the 2024 concussion aren't a ticking time bomb.
He’s still young. At 24, he has time on his side, but the window for "developmental" receivers closes fast.
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If you are a team looking for a low-risk, high-reward signing for a 90-man offseason roster, DuBose is your guy. He has shown he isn't afraid to go back over the middle. He’s said it himself: "You can't play with fear."
Keep an eye on the waiver wire and practice squad signings as we approach the spring. A team like Miami (who knows him well) or perhaps a rebuilding squad needing size at the perimeter might give him a "prove it" deal.
The most important thing to watch for in the next Grant DuBose injury update is whether he gets a clean bill of health during a team physical this March. That’s the hurdle. Until he passes a team's medical exam, he’s a spectator. If he does pass, don't be surprised to see him fighting for a WR4 or WR5 spot somewhere in the AFC East again.
Actionable Insights for Following This Story:
Track the NFL Transaction wire specifically for "Reserve/Future" contracts over the next few weeks. These are the types of deals players in DuBose's position sign to get into a training camp. Also, watch the Bills' former coaching staff movements; often, a position coach who liked a player in one city will advocate for them in another.