Timing and transaction details
The Miami Dolphins released tight end Ben Sims from injured reserve with an injury settlement on Sept. 10, closing a brief stint that did not include a regular‑season snap in South Florida. Sims had been waived/injured on Aug. 31 as the roster trimmed to 53, reverted to injured reserve when he went unclaimed, and was later moved off IR with the settlement.
The settlement formally frees Sims to sign elsewhere once he’s healthy. Over the course of his professional career he has appeared in 45 games, and the release was characterized by team observers as an example of how quickly roster math and injuries can alter opportunity windows during final cuts.
Immediate roster implications for the Dolphins
The Dolphins’ tight end room will now lean on incumbent options such as Dulcich, recent draft picks and practice‑squad alternatives as the 2026 season opens. The club’s decision to settle with Sims removes one depth piece from the equation and leaves the coaching staff to rely on those remaining players for early‑season snaps, situational blocking and special teams duty.
That reality matters in a narrow way: several of Miami’s recent season‑opening wins were close affairs, and depth behind starters can swing special‑teams situations and short‑yardage packages. The club has been 4‑2 in openers since 2020 and 6‑4 across the last 10 season starters, a stretch that mixes decisive victories with tight finishes. The most recent season opener, however, was a lopsided loss in which Miami scored eight points while allowing 33.
With those mixed Week‑1 outcomes in mind, preseason roster churn — particularly at rotational positions and on special teams — takes on practical importance. Removing a blocker and special‑teams contributor like Sims narrows immediate in‑game personnel choices and increases the value of multi‑role players already on the active roster or practice squad.
What comes next for Sims and Miami
The settlement gives Sims the freedom to sign with another club once cleared medically. Yardbarker projects that whether another team values his blocking and special‑teams experience will determine the next chapter of his career. That scenario keeps the door open for a midseason pickup if injuries or performance issues create matching needs elsewhere.
For Miami, the move is a small but tangible roster adjustment ahead of Week 1. It underscores the constant calculus teams make at the margins — balancing immediate game‑day needs, special teams reliability and longer‑term developmental priorities — as they prepare for the opener.
