The Miami Dolphins are out four players for their Week 5 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The team will miss starters and key players on offense, defense, and special teams. Can they overcome the losses? Will both players return from the reserve lists on Sunday?
The injury lists for both teams were released yesterday afternoon.
Players not ruled out: Caleb Douglas continues to miss playing time
Rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas caught 7 passes for 113 yards in Miami’s first two games, but has been sidelined with an ankle injury since then. The third-round pick is the first of three wide receivers selected by the Dolphins in the 2026 Draft, joining third-round selection Chris Bell and fifth-round addition Kevin Coleman Jr. Miami hopes the three receivers can grow together and provide a nucleus for the team moving forward. Unfortunately, Douglas, who has an ankle injury, continues to miss playing time as he recovers.
Joining Douglas on Miami’s injury report with an “out” designation are edge rusher Robert Beal Jr., tight end Justin Joly, and cornerback Reese Taylor. Beal, like Douglas, was injured in Week 2 and hasn’t played since. The Dolphins’ pass rush seemed to falter last week against the Minnesota Vikings, where the team recorded four sacks, and the return of Beal, who has a lingering hamstring injury, to the group will add to the attack.
Taylor has a quadriceps injury. He hasn’t seen any defensive snaps this year, but he’s been on special teams and his absence leaves a hole there.
Joly suffered a concussion this week, but has been inactive for most of the season, making a brief special teams appearance in Week 2.
For the Bengals, safety Kyle Dugger has been ruled out with a quadriceps issue.
Questionable status: Bengals wide receiver, Dolphins running back headline group
The story of the week for the Bengals was the health of their top two wide receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase suffered a concussion in Cincinnati’s Week 4 game, while Tee Higgins has groin and neck injuries. Both players are questionable for the game, with no clear indication if they will be available. Chase returned to practice Friday as a full participant after being limited earlier in the week, but he has not officially cleared the league’s concussion protocol which would allow him to play Sunday.
Higgins, according to Cincy Jungle, is expected to warm up with the team to see if his adductor and neck will allow him to play.
Cincinnati also listed linebacker Swayze Bozeman (groin), safety Bryan Cook (ankle), and wide receiver Colbie Young (knee) as questionable for Sunday.
The Miami side of the injury report includes running back Jaylen Wright, who continues to deal with a foot injury. The Dolphins are still adjusting following the loss of Pro Bowl running back De’Von Achane to a knee injury suffered in Week 3, with Wright and Ollie Gordon II expected to see more opportunities without Acane on the field. Wright did play last week against the Minnesota Vikings, but he only had five carries for seven yards during the game.
Miami also listed linebacker Jackson Woodard (ankle) as questionable.
Will Miami activate players from their reserve lists?
Miami could make some roster moves before Sunday’s game. Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant is on the injured reserve list with a foot injury, but he returned to practice this week and fully participated in Friday’s workout. Cornerback Storm Duck, who is coming back from a knee injury suffered last year, is in his second week of practices as he tries to return from the physically unable to perform list. Duck participated fully in the week’s practices. Both players are officially questionable on the injury report.
If Miami plans to activate one or both players for Sunday’s game, it must move the roster by 4 pm Eastern today.
The Dolphins’ bye week is Week 6, which could factor into whether to activate Grant or Duck. Miami could leave them in this week’s game to give them two weeks of preparation before their first game of the year.
Players without a game day assignment
Both teams listed various players on the injury report during the week, but they were not assigned a game day designation, indicating they will be fully available for tomorrow’s kickoff. For Miami, the list includes long snapper Tucker Addington (shoulder), wide receiver Chris Bell (knee), cornerback JuJu Brents (heel), tackle Austin Jackson (knee), and safety Dante Trader Jr. (shin).
Cincinnati’s roster includes defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (rest/knee), safety Jordan Battle (hamstring), linebacker Barrett Carter (ankle), defensive tackle BJ Hill (rest/Achilles), defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (rest/wrist), and guard Dalton Risner (knee).