The Dolphins’ hopes of another late-season push must start today — and an unexpected name could hold the key

We already knew that Greg Dulcich was going to be making his Miami Dolphins debut this week against the Falcons — that was decided when Darren Waller went on injured reserve and Dulcich was elevated off the practice squad to take his place. Both are players who offer their best work in the passing game, making the exchange a sensible one for the roster.

But when the news came that starting 'Y' tight end Julian Hill was going to be out for this game, it put another dire shadow on Miami's offensive game plan. Both Dulcich and Tanner Conner are athletes more so than they are blockers and Miami sorely needs some blocking punch out of someone other than fullback Alec Ingold.

They could get it in Rucci. But only if they play their cards right.

Who is Miami Dolphins tight end Hayden Rucci?

• Father, Todd, was a second-round draft choice out of Penn State by the Patriots, playing 85 games in the NFL
• Hayden played five seasons at Wisconsin as a 3-star recruit
• Went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and has been with the Miami Dolphins ever since signing as UDFA contract
• Has played 179 snaps in the 2024 and 2025 preseasons combined for Miami

The question, of course, is what kind of blocking assignments he'll be trusted with. Will Rucci be charged with being a player put in motion often with his snaps? Will he be tasked with playing in-line and allowing Ingold and others to handle the blocking assignments in space? And how will Rucci, who has good functional strength at his disposal, execute if he is?

In some ways, this opportunity serves as the latest chance to evaluate not just a player on the field, but the coaching staff and the ability to adjust a game plan. If Rucci is charged with playing like Julian Hill, who has been afforded opportunities in live action for three years now to figure out how to win blocking assignments in motion at the snap and while working in space, he'd better be able to execute, too. And if he doesn't, will Miami adjust? Or will it simply be decided that 'this is the offense' and hope he figures it out in real time?

Perhaps Rucci doesn't play at all and he's viewed simply as an insurance policy for injury. But based off what we know about the other tight ends available today, it's hard to envision him not needing to fill some type of contribution if Miami's run game is going to get on track and help the Dolphins win this football game.

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