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Duck’s knee injury will sideline him for the remainder of the campaign, head coach Mike McDaniel announced on Monday (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). The second-year cover man had been handling a rotational role on defense in 2025, as he had during his rookie campaign. A lengthy rehab process is now in store, however. Miami released Kendall Fuller this offseason before trading away Jalen Ramsey. Those moves ensured new starters would be in place at the cornerback spot, but injuries at that position have piled up over the course of 2025. Kader Kohou and Artie Burns each suffered ACL tears during the summer, creating the need for further secondary depth leading up to the campaign. Other injuries have since occurred which have left the unit in an even more unenviable situation. Adding Duck to the list of unavailable options will further limit the available corners for Miami moving forward. To this point in the season, the Dolphins have fared relatively well in allowing 199 passing yards per game (good for 11th in the NFL). Maintaining that level of play will be more difficult in the wake of another absence, though. As a former UDFA, Duck is on the books through the 2026 campaign. He could reprise his role as a part-time defensive and special teams contributor upon returning to full health next season, something which would of course be key in determining his financial future beyond that point. Depending on how the team proceeds in the secondary, however, the 24-year-old’s injury situation could leave on him the outside looking in with respect to a 2026 roster spot.
