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Dolphins Bring Back Rookie to Practice Squad

The Miami Dolphins made a move to beef up their tight end room

Alain Poupart

Miami Dolphins tight end Hayden Rucci (49) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touch down against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium.
Miami Dolphins tight end Hayden Rucci (49) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touch down against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
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The Miami Dolphins were down one tight end, so they brought back a promising rookie.

The team announced Wednesday it had re-signed tight end Hayden Rucci to the practice squad, one day after the Dolphins placed Tanner Conner on injured reserve.

Rucci will join the three tight ends on the active roster: Jonnu Smith, Durham Smythe, and Julian Hill.

Undrafted out of Wisconsin, Rucci showed promise during training camp, particularly as a blocker, but couldn't overtake the other tight ends to earn a spot on the active roster.

The Dolphins released Rucci from the practice squad on October 23 to make room for quarterback C.J. Beathard, who has since been poached by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Rucci filled the opening created Monday when the Dolphins signed practice squad defensive lineman Neil Farrell to the active roster.

THE DOLPHINS PRACTICE SQUAD

Below is the updated Dolphins practice squad (with the reminder that the Dolphins have 17 openings because they have an exemption for Matos).

CURRENT PRACTICE SQUAD MEMBERS

  • S Jordan Colbert
  • RB Deneric Prince
  • CB Isaiah Johnson
  • CB Nik Needham
  • LB Dequan Jackson
  • LB William Bradley-King
  • LB Derrick McLendon
  • OL Chasen Hines
  • T Ryan Hayes
  • T Jackson Carman
  • T Bayron Matos
  • WR Erik Ezukanma
  • WR Tarik Black
  • TE Hayden Rucci
  • DL Shakel Brown
  • DT Matt Dickerson
  • LS Tucker Addington
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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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