On Monday, February 16, 2026, the Miami Dolphins released wide receiver Tyreek Hill and edge rusher Bradley Chubb along with guard James Daniels and receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Hill, who turns 32 on March 1, suffered a torn ACL and dislocated left knee in Week 4 against the New York Jets on September 29, 2025, ending his season after just four games (21 catches, 265 yards, one touchdown). The injury required major surgery, and his recovery timeline for 2026 remains uncertain, though his agent Drew Rosenhaus reported Hill is "progressing well" and intends to play again.
The Dolphins acquired Hill from Kansas City in 2022 and gave him a contract extension that made him the highest-paid receiver at the time. He was productive in Miami with 340 catches for 4,733 yards and 27 touchdowns across four seasons, including back-to-back 1,700+ yard seasons in 2022-2023. His contract would have carried a $51 million cap hit in 2026; releasing him saves Miami $22.8 million while creating $28.2 million in dead cap space. The Dolphins are rebuilding under new head coach Jeff Hafley and GM Jon-Eric Sullivan after a disappointing 2025 season. The team was projected to be $17.4 million over the 2026 salary cap before these moves.