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Marcel Louis-Jacques, ESPN
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins released Shaquil Barrett on Thursday, about a month after the linebacker ended his brief retirement in November.
Barrett signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Dolphins this offseason, but announced his retirement in July, the day before the team opened training camp. He requested to be reinstated in November, but the Dolphins refused to activate him, despite losing their two top pass rushers, Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb.
Barrett’s decision not to retire came days before the deadline to do so in Week 13, and Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel called the team’s decision “a numbers game.”
“Just by talking to [Dolphins general manager] Chris [Grier] where our roster is and the players who have earned the right to be on it,” McDaniel said in November. “It’s just a numbers game in the NFL, so I don’t think the timing was necessarily ideal.”
Barrett, 32, can play again this season if he clears waivers on Friday. If another team claims him, he would not be able to play the rest of this season.
Barrett’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, thanked the team for their most recent decision.
“We appreciate the Dolphins giving Shaq this opportunity to continue his NFL career,” Rosenhaus told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “Hopefully he’ll clear waivers and become a free agent so he can play again this season. He’s in great shape and would be ready to play right away.”
McDaniel announced Tuesday that the Dolphins would not activate Chubb from the physically unable to perform list, returning the two-time Pro Bowler to the reserve list for the remainder of the season.
Rookie Chop Robinson has played well in his place and is 2.5 sacks away from tying Phillips’ rookie franchise record set in 2021.
The Dolphins play the Cleveland Browns in Week 17. A loss or a win for the Denver Broncos would eliminate them from playoff contention.
