Dolphins sign tight end Hayden Rucci to practice squad

A familiar face is back and on the Miami Dolphins practice squad

With an opening on the practice squad and the run game suffering on Monday Night Football (Get well soon, Alec Ingold!), the Miami Dolphins have re-signed tight end Hayden Rucci to the practice squad.

Rucci, who played collegiately at Wisconsin, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dolphins on May 10th, 2024. He would spend the offseason with Miami and even start the season on the practice squad before being released on October 23rd to make room for quarterback C.J. Beathard. Rucci finished the preseason with seven catches on eight targets for 57 yards and a touchdown.

The Jacksonville Jaguars would later poach C.J. Beathard from the Dolphins’ practice squad.

What can Hayden Rucci bring to the Miami Dolphins offense?

First, let me start by saying this is a practice squad signing. Currently, we do not know how long Ingold may be out or if he’ll miss an extended period. That said, I think the reason for this signing is quite apparent.

On Monday Night vs. the Rams, Miami’s run game returned to reality, rushing for 67 yards on 22 carries for a pedestrian 3 yards per carry. The run game struggled to get in a rhythm all night, and while both Durham Smythe and Julian Hill are adequate blockers, you saw a clear difference in Monday Night’s game when they tried to line up in Ingold’s absence.

I’m not sure how soon Rucci will hear his name called up to the 53-man roster — if at all — but for a player who showed promise in the summer, primarily from a blocking perspective — I’m entirely on board with the Dolphins bringing him back especially if Ingold’s long-term health is in question.