Dolphins decide against activating Shaq Barrett off reserve/injured list

The Miami Dolphins will hold Barrett’s contract rights for the 2025 season, too.

Four months after retiring from the NFL, Miami Dolphins linebacker Shaq Barrett announced he’d like to be reinstated on Tuesday — two days before the deadline. The Dolphins had until 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving to decide, ultimately opting not to activate Barrett.

“In just talking with [general manager] Chris [Grier] where are roster is at and the players that have earned the right to be on it, it is just a numbers game in the NFL so the timing I don’t think was necessarily ideal,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said following Thursday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Miami’s defense, ranked 29th in sacks with just 1.8 per game, could have benefited from Barrett’s pass-rushing skill set, especially with Bradley Chubb and Cameron Goode still recovering from last season’s injuries.

Barrett told Kay Adams in late August that he’d only return to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but his decision to notify the Dolphins so late in the process likely played a larger role in their decision.

“Like I said we just found out on a day that I had a press conference with you guys, and it was more of that,” McDaniel said. “It wasn’t whether he wanted to play there or here. He knew we had his contractual rights, so it was more of where we are at, and let’s look at our roster.”

Miami hoped Barret could help fill the void left by Andrew Van Ginkel’s departure to the Minnesota Vikings, but was instead forced to lean on rookie Chop Robinson and ninth-year edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah for most of the year.

While Barrett won’t suit up for Miami this season, the Dolphins will likely revisit his status in the offseason. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero noted that a player can’t retire and become a free agent at year’s end, meaning the Dolphins own Barrett’s rights for the 2025 season.