Breaking Down the Dolphins Saturday Moves

The Miami Dolphins beefed up their special teams for the game against Kansas City

Alain Poupart | Jan 13, 2024

Breaking Down the Dolphins Saturday Moves /

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Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins made two practice squad elevations for their playoff game at Kansas City on Saturday night, with both meant to help the special teams.

The Dolphins elevated Malik Reed and Ethan Bonner for the game against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

The moves will help a special teams unit that has been hit by injuries, not only to key special teams players but also to defensive players with a domino effect on the kicking game.

Special teams mainstay Cameron Goode sustained a season-ending knee injury in the season finale against the Buffalo Bills.

Other special teams core players like Elijah Campbell and Duke Riley will be forced to spend more time getting snaps on defense because of the injuries that sidelined Jerome Baker and could keep DeShon Elliott and/or Jevon Holland out of the lineup against Kansas City or be limited.

Reed was among the three veteran linebackers the Dolphins signed this week after Andrew Van Ginkel, Baker and Goode were injured in the Buffalo game. The other two were Justin Houston and Bruce Irvin, who were signed to the active roster and figure to play meaningful snaps against the Chiefs.

Bonner also was elevated for the Buffalo, though he ended up being inactive for that game.

Published Jan 13, 2024

ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of Miami Dolphins On SI 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 and the Dolphins team website. 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.