The Miami Dolphins have parted ways with offensive lineman Ryan Hayes, waiving him from injured reserve after reaching an injury settlement, according to a report by Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. Hayes, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, faced injury issues late in the preseason. He was initially waived with an injury designation in August, but after no other teams claimed him during the waiver period, he was placed on the Dolphins’ injured reserve the following day.
Initially, Hayes was expected to miss the entirety of the 2024 season due to a foot injury. However, the injury settlement now gives him an opportunity to join another team once he fully recovers. An injury settlement in the NFL allows players to be released from a team’s injured reserve and pursue other opportunities when healthy, rather than being tied to the team for the entire season.
Hayes’ journey in Miami started when he was drafted in 2023. Despite not making the active roster, he spent the entire 2023 season on the Dolphins’ practice squad. This allowed him to learn the team’s system and continue his development as an offensive lineman, though he never appeared in a regular-season game. Hayes was a standout in college at Michigan, where he played a key role on the offensive line, primarily as a left tackle. His size and athleticism caught the attention of the Dolphins, who hoped he could become a valuable asset over time.
Unfortunately, injuries have slowed his progress, and this latest setback led to his release. Still, the injury settlement offers him the chance for a fresh start elsewhere in the NFL once he’s fully healed. Teams looking for offensive line depth could be interested in Hayes once he’s medically cleared, especially given his experience at a high-level college program like Michigan. For now, Hayes’ focus will be on recovering from his foot injury and preparing for the possibility of signing with a new team in the future.
While the injury has delayed his NFL career, Hayes still has potential to contribute once he returns to full health.
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