Dolphins Make Move to Create Space for New Linebacker

The Miami Dolphins placed another player on injured reserve.
 Miami Dolphins tight end Tanner Conner (80) warms up prior to the game at Highmark Stadium.
Miami Dolphins tight end Tanner Conner (80) warms up prior to the game at Highmark Stadium. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
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The Miami Dolphins have placed another player on injured reserve (IR), this time tight end Tanner Conner.

The third-year player from Idaho State sustained a knee injury in the first half of the 23-15 victory against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night and did not return.

  • The move will leave the Dolphins with three tight ends on the active roster:
  • Jonnu Smith;
  • Julian Hill; and
  • Durham Smythe

Putting Conner on IR creates the roster opening needed after the Dolphins claimed linebacker Tyrel Dodson off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks.

Conner mainly played on special teams for the Dolphins, though he did start one of the eight games he played. On the season, Conner has three catches for 16 yards.

Conner's 110 special teams snaps are second-most on the Dolphins among offensive players, one behind fellow tight end Julian Hill.

In the past three weeks, the Dolphins have placed quarterback Tyler Huntley, T. Austin Jackson, and now Conner on IR.

Conner will have to miss at least four games — against the Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, and New York Jets — before he can be designated to return. The first game he would be eligible for is the Week 15 game against the Houston Texans.

The Dolphins have used four of the allotted eight IR return designations:

  • WR River Cracraft;
  • CB Cam Smith;
  • QB Tua Tagovailoa; and
  • DB Patrick McMorris

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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.