If you’re a Miami Dolphins fan, you might be feeling like everything is finally turning in your team’s favor. The Dolphins are riding high on a three-game win streak, bouncing back from a rocky start, and they’re on the brink of a major defensive upgrade. Enter Shaq Barrett, the pass-rushing powerhouse who might just be suiting up for Miami once again.
The word on the street is that Barrett has applied for reinstatement, pivoting from his earlier retirement announcement this summer, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. It’s noteworthy for Dolphins fans because Barrett is still under contract with Miami. This means that if he’s reinstated, the Dolphins control his future play, ideally sparking an immediate return to the field, which is precisely what the Dolphins need.
Sitting at 5-6, the Dolphins are very much alive in the playoff picture, quite the turnaround from their earlier 2-6 standing. While that rough start is still in the rearview mirror, the team is focusing on maintaining forward momentum.
Let’s not forget Barrett’s pedigree. He’s not just any player coming back; he’s a former Pro Bowler with championship experience, having been part of the 2015 and 2020 Super Bowl-winning teams with the Denver Broncos and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively. After being released by the Bucs post-2023 season to clear cap space, the Dolphins saw potential in Barrett, signing him with hopes that he still had some fire left.
And there’s reason for that hope. Back in 2019, Barrett posted a career-best 19.5 sacks, following it up with a solid 10 sacks in 2021.
Even his 4.5 sacks in the 2023 season underscore his ability to disrupt offenses. This season, however, Miami’s defense hasn’t been wreaking much havoc, ranking in the bottom five with only 21 sacks over their first 11 games.
Barrett coming back into the fold could be just the jolt the Dolphins need in their pass rush.
As the season progresses, every game counts, and any boost, especially on the defensive side, might be the key difference between punching a ticket to the playoffs or sitting at home come January. Miami is hopeful that Barrett’s return could be that game-changer they’ve been waiting for, making a deep playoff run less of a dream and more of a reality.