Honestly, looking at the Miami Dolphins injury report today ESPN feels more like reading a medical textbook than a depth chart. It’s been a rough ride. If you've been following the Fins this season, you know the vibe has shifted from "Super Bowl dark horse" to "can we please just field a healthy roster?"
The 7-10 finish tells part of the story, but the sheer volume of names on the reserve list tells the rest. We are talking about 25 players spending time on the shelf this year. That is not just "bad luck." It is a roster-gutting epidemic that has effectively ended the Mike McDaniel era as we knew it.
The Big Names: Where They Stand Right Now
You can't talk about Miami's health without starting with the "Cheetah." Tyreek Hill's season basically ended before it really began. After that horrific knee injury against the Jets in Week 4, the questions haven't just been about when he returns, but if he returns to South Beach.
Tyreek underwent a major procedure back in late September to repair a dislocated left knee and a mess of torn ligaments, including his ACL. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, the surgery was a success. He’s aiming for a Week 1 return in 2026. But here is the kicker: Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN is already reporting that there is "no way" Hill returns on his current $52 million cap hit. Between the injury and the age, the math just doesn't add up anymore.
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Then there is the quarterback situation. It's... complicated.
Tua Tagovailoa and the Quinn Ewers Shift
Tua’s season was a roller coaster of "is he okay?" moments. After that Week 2 concussion against Buffalo, things never really felt stable. While he returned in Week 8, the spark was gone. Eventually, the team made the move to rookie Quinn Ewers.
Right now, the injury report for January 14-17 lists several key players in "limbo" as the team enters an early offseason:
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- Quinn Ewers (QB): Listed as questionable for the start of training camp with a knee issue.
- Jaylen Waddle (WR): Finished the season on the sidelines with rib issues. He’s expected to be fine for the 2026 program, but he missed the finale against the Patriots.
- De’Von Achane (RB): Shoulder problems kept him out of the late-season push.
- Minkah Fitzpatrick (FS): Dealing with a calf injury that has him questionable for the start of the next cycle.
Why This Report Is Different This Year
Usually, an injury report is about who's playing on Sunday. But since the Dolphins missed the playoffs while teams like the Broncos and 49ers are battling it out in the Divisional Round today, the "Miami Dolphins injury report today ESPN" is more about the long-term prognosis of the franchise.
The secondary was arguably hit harder than the offense. Kader Kohou’s ACL tear in camp was a precursor to a season where the defensive backfield looked like a revolving door. When you lose your primary lockdown corner before Week 1, you’re playing behind the 8-ball. Then you add the loss of Storm Duck—who actually looked like a legit find in camp—and you see why the defense crumbled.
The IR Long List (The 2025 Casualty List)
It's kind of depressing to see it all laid out, but here are the guys who essentially vanished from the active roster:
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- Darren Waller: The groin injury in early January was the final nail. He actually played nine games, which is a lot for this list, but he's on IR now.
- Bradley Bozeman: Concussion protocol ended his season early.
- Jason Sanders: Even the kicker wasn't safe. He landed on IR with a hip injury on January 4th.
- James Daniels: The big-money guard played exactly three snaps before his season ended. Talk about a bad return on investment.
What This Means for 2026
If you're a Fins fan looking for a silver lining, it’s that most of these guys should be healthy by the time training camp rolls around in July. The medical staff has their work cut out for them, especially with the "questionable for training camp" designations on guys like Theo Wease Jr. (head) and Malik Washington (thumb).
The real hurdle isn't the physical healing; it's the financial fallout. With Tua and Tyreek representing a combined $108 million cap hit in 2026, the Dolphins can't afford to have "injury-prone" stars. You're basically looking at a team that has to decide if they want to run it back with a brittle roster or blow the whole thing up.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Watch the Cap: Keep an eye on the "post-June 1" designation for Tyreek Hill. If he's not willing to restructure, he might be a cap casualty.
- Monitor the Medicals: The first "real" update on Ewers and Waddle won't come until the voluntary OTA period in the spring.
- Draft Focus: Given the injuries to the O-line (Daniels, Eichenberg, Jackson), expect the front office to prioritize "availability" over "ceiling" in the upcoming draft.
The 2025 season was a war of attrition that Miami lost. The "report" today isn't just a list of bruises—it's a roadmap for an offseason that's going to be very, very busy.