Dolphins activate Brooks off IR, waive Pierre-Paul. And playoff clinching scenarios
The Dolphins on Tuesday activated rookie running back Chris Brooks off injured reserve and onto the 53-man roster.
Miami also waived linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul to make room for Brooks, whose 21-day practice window had come to an end.
“That maturation and understanding what it takes to execute stuff at the NFL level, guys can depend on him,” coach Mike McDaniel said on Monday. “They trust him and his strain and effort is something that adds value to the team, so it’s an easy decision to have him up or have him activated.”
Brooks, who originally signed with the team as an undrafted free agent, has missed the last eight games because of a knee injury.
In six games, Brooks has run for 94 yards on 15 carries. His most notable contributions have been on special teams, where he has played 40 percent of the snaps this season. Brooks figures to return to his role on special teams while providing depth in the backfield.
Brooks takes up the seventh of Miami’s eight allotted return designations this season. McDaniel has not committed to using the final designation on any player. Inside linebacker Jerome Baker is eligible to return from his knee injury in Week 18. McDaniel said a return for left guard Isaiah Wynn, who injured his quad in Week 7, is “not really on my radar.”
The Dolphins signed Pierre-Paul to a one-year deal earlier in the month in the aftermath of outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips’ season-ending Achilles injury. Pierre-Paul appeared in two games and played five snaps. He was inactive for the Dolphins’ win against the New York Jets in Week 15.
Since Phillips’ injury, Andrew Van Ginkel has started in his place and Emmanuel Ogbah’s snaps have also increased.
Second-year player Cameron Goode received snaps late in Miami’s blowout win against New York. And the Dolphins last week reunited with Melvin Ingram III, signing the veteran pass rusher to the practice squad. Ingram has not played in a game this season and McDaniel said the team would bring him along “day by day.”
Official clinching scenarios
The NFL on Tuesday announced official playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 16, and the Dolphins could clinch the AFC East title or a postseason berth this weekend.
Miami can win the division with a home win against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday and Buffalo Bills loss/tie against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night. The Dolphins could also clinch the AFC East with a tie and Buffalo loss.
Miami will secure a playoff spot with a win or any one of the following outcomes:
Dolphins tie and Jaguars loss
Dolphins tie and Colts loss and Texans loss
Dolphins tie and Colts loss/tie and Browns loss
Dolphins tie and Texans loss/tie and Bengals loss/tie
Dolphins tie and Bengals loss/tie and Colts loss/tie
