For those hoping for a Shaquil Barrett comeback in Miami, the wait will extend indefinitely.
Despite the veteran pass rusher’s attempt to re-enter the NFL, the Miami Dolphins have opted not to activate him from the reserve/retired list, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday. The decision came ahead of the league’s 4 p.m. ET deadline for such moves, leaving Barrett on the sidelines for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Barrett, a two-time Super Bowl champion and one of the league’s most disruptive defensive forces during his prime, initially retired from the NFL on July 20, citing his desire to focus on his family after nine seasons. His surprising retirement, just months after signing with Miami as a free agent following his release from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, left the Dolphins without a marquee addition to their defense.
Earlier this week, Barrett filed for reinstatement, signaling his readiness to return to the field. Reports indicated that Barrett was eager to suit up for Miami, but the Dolphins ultimately declined his request. According to Rapoport, the Dolphins do not plan to release Barrett either, meaning he will remain under team control and unavailable to join another franchise this season.
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The Dolphins’ decision to keep Barrett on the reserve/retired list suggests they are prioritizing continuity and chemistry in their defense as they push toward the postseason. While adding a player of Barrett’s caliber could have bolstered the team’s pass rush, integrating a veteran midseason may have posed challenges in terms of scheme fit and conditioning.
Miami head coach Mike McDaniel expressed surprise earlier in the week when asked about Barrett’s attempt to unretire.
“No, so that’s why it’s just kind of news as you guys got it, it’s to us,” McDaniel said Tuesday. “We’ll sort through that. The Tuesday of a Thursday night game, it’s tough to totally know the way — I’ve got to talk to [general manager] Chris [Grier] first.”
Ultimately, Miami chose to stick with the roster as is, leaning on linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Emmanuel Ogbah to hold down the fort. The duo has combined for 4.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, and 13 tackles for loss this season, providing steady, if unspectacular, production in Barrett’s absence.
Barrett, who has accumulated 59 sacks, 125 quarterback hits, and 22 forced fumbles across 131 career games, would have brought a proven track record of quarterback disruption. His best season came in 2019, when he led the league with 19.5 sacks and earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
Despite the allure of adding such a seasoned pass rusher, Miami remains focused on the task at hand. The team sits at 5-6 and is in the thick of the playoff race, making their upcoming Thanksgiving night matchup against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field a pivotal contest.
With the Dolphins looking to break a two-game skid and keep their postseason hopes alive, McDaniel and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will rely on the current defensive rotation to generate pressure on Packers quarterback Jordan Love. Miami’s defense has shown flashes of dominance but remains a unit in search of consistency, particularly in high-leverage situations.
As the Dolphins turn the page on Barrett’s potential return, their focus shifts entirely to the stretch run of the season. While the door on Barrett may be closed for 2024, his future in Miami—or elsewhere—remains uncertain beyond this year. For now, the Dolphins are betting on the players in-house to help secure a playoff berth and perhaps more.
With a critical primetime showdown on Thanksgiving night, Miami has little room for error. The decision to pass on Barrett signals confidence in their current roster and a belief that the pieces are already in place to make a run. Whether that gamble pays off will unfold over the next several weeks.