The Miami Dolphins have ruled 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 two players return from the reserve lists by Sunday?
The injury lists for both teams were released yesterday afternoon.
Players 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. The third-round pick
was the first of three wide receivers selected by the Dolphins in the 2026 Draft, joined by third-round selection Chris Bell and fifth-round addition Kevin Coleman Jr. Miami is hoping the three receivers can grow together and provide the nucleus for the team moving forward. Douglas, who is dealing with an ankle injury, unfortunately 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 during Week 2 and has not played since. The Dolphins’ pass rush seemed to breakout last week against the Minnesota Vikings, with the team recording four sacks, and returning Beal, who has a lingering hamstring injury, to the group would add to the attack.
Taylor has a quadriceps injury. He has not seen any defensive snaps this year, but he has been on special teams and his absence leaves a hole there.
Joly sustained a concussion this week, but he has already been inactive for much of the season, making one 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 receivers, Dolphins running back headline group
The story of the week for the Bengals has been the health of their top two wide receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase sustained a concussion during Cincinnati’s Week 4 game, while Tee Higgins has injuries to his groin and neck. Both players are questionable for the game, with no clear indication if they will be available. Chase returned to practice on Friday as a full participant after being limited earlier in the week, but he has not officially cleared the league’s concussion protocol that would allow him to play on 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 increased opportunities without Achane on the field. Wright was able to 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 ahead of Sunday’s game. Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant is on the injured reserve list with a toe injury, but he returned to practice this week and fully participated in Friday’s workout. Cornerback Storm Duck, working his way back from a knee injury sustained last year, is in his second week of practices as he tries to return from the physically unable to perform list. Duck fully participated 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 make the roster moves by 4 p.m. Eastern today.
The Dolphins’ bye week is Week 6, which could factor into the consideration of whether to activate Grant or Duck. Miami could leave them out of this week’s game to give them two more weeks of preparation before their first game of the year.
Players with no game-day designation
Both teams listed various players on the injury report during the week, but gave them no game-day designation, indicating they are 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 list includes defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (rest / knee), safety Jordan Battle (hamstring), linebacker Barrett Carter (ankle), defensive tackle B.J. Hill (rest/Achilles), defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (rest/wrist), and guard Dalton Risner (knee).
