Two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Shaquil Barrett won’t be making a midseason return from retirement after all.
The Miami Dolphins had until 4 p.m. ET on Thursday to decide whether or not they’d activate Barrett from the reserve/retired list. The team opted against adding the pass rusher to their roster, and also decided not to release Barrett — meaning he’ll miss the remainder of the 2024 season.
Barrett, 32, signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in the offseason, but decided to retire in July, just days prior to the start of training camp. Earlier this week, the pass rusher decided to apply for immediate reinstatement, which was a decision that Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he was “fully caught off guard” by when he heard the news Tuesday.
The Dolphins lost Jaelan Phillips to a season-ending injury and are still waiting for Bradley Chubb to return from the PUP list. The team also placed Tyus Bowser on the injured reserve Thursday. However, it has seen an uptick in production from first-round rookie Chop Robinson, who is starting opposite Emmanuel Ogbah.
Activating Barrett would’ve required the team to release a player to make room on the 53-man roster. Releasing Barrett would’ve run the risk of the pass rusher joining and strengthening another playoff contender. Instead, the team decided neither route was the prudent decision.
