The uphill climb for Mike McDaniel’s Dolphins offense just steepened as injury claims another player the roster is not currently built to replace

If I told you that Julian Hill was going to be seen as a major loss on game day 12 months ago, you probably would not have believed me. But Hill, who was maligned often by fans due to a number of visible mistakes early in the 2024 season, has taken a step forward this season. He isn't a major player in the passing game but he's a blocker and facilitator in the run game that Miami simply does not have elsewhere in the room.

And now he's expected to miss the game, which will likely serve as a major loss for Miami's run game profile against a smaller, speedy Atlanta Falcons defense.

2025 Miami Dolphins' tight end room

• Julian Hill (expected to miss Sunday)
• Darren Waller (placed on injured reserve this week, will miss at least 4 weeks)
• Tanner Conner
• Greg Dulcich (added to practice squad in August)
• Chris Myarick (signed to practice squad this week)
• Hayden Rucci (practice squad)

Hill will join veteran Darren Waller as players in the room unavailable for action — which leaves fourth-year UDFA Tanner Conner and former top-100 draft choice in Denver, Greg Dulcich as the active-roster tight ends who will join fullback Alec Ingold on game day. Ingold is a good blocker but is less impactful on the line of scrimmage as compared to enjoying the angles of fitting blocks from the backfield. Conner is a college wide receiver. And Dulcich is more of a receiver than a blocker himself.

Miami may end up turning to second-year UDFA Hayden Rucci or veteran Chris Myarick off the practice squad to fill the role on Sunday as a call-up to the game day roster. What is for certain is that the names available don't fit the bill as in-line players or as point of attack blockers on the front side of runs.

It changes the math for Miami's offense and creates new hurdles for a unit that hasn't really figured out the challenges they've already been faced with this season. But alas, there's no rest for the weary — and so Miami's tight end rooms will need to seize the moment. The big question is if the team will tab one of the practice squad options to join the game day crew — and if so, who?

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