NAPA, California — Miami Dolphins rookie safety Kyle Louis was placed on injured reserve Wednesday afternoon after suffering a knee injury in Sunday’s season-opening loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The IR placement means Louis is now required to miss a minimum of four games. Miami won’t have Louis for upcoming games against the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals before the team’s Week 6 bye.
“Just the time that we thought he would be back in — and we’re hopeful that he’ll be back — it just made sense,” coach Jeff Hafley said before his team participated in a Wednesday afternoon practice in Napa as the Dolphins stay out west this week between games against the Raiders and 49ers. “I don’t think it was a very hard decision. We’ll certainly miss him.”
With the roster spot opened up, the Dolphins signed cornerback Jaylin Simpson to the active roster from the practice squad.
Hafley first said Louis’ ailing knee would have him miss at least this coming Sunday’s game against the 49ers on the road, and possibly more, in his Monday web conference call following the loss to the Raiders. A Tuesday report from NFL Network said it was an MCL sprain for the rookie.
Louis only played three snaps on defense Sunday in Las Vegas, but he is a key special teams contributor who started the season as one of the Dolphins’ two gunners on punt coverage.
The fourth-round pick out of Pittsburgh was converted to safety from linebacker midway through training camp. He is still viewed as a versatile piece who can line up in different spots when healthy.
Louis is now one of two fourth-round-drafted rookie defenders on IR. Linebacker Trey Moore started the season on IR due to a preseason ankle injury. He is first eligible to return for Miami’s fifth game, against the Bengals, although his recovery is expected to take him through the Dolphins’ bye week.
Simpson was with Hafley and Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan in Green Bay last season. He appeared in one game and recorded eight tackles. Simpson was originally a fifth-round selection of the Indianapolis Colts out of Auburn in the 2024 draft and spent that season on their practice squad.
“We really liked him in the draft,” Hafley said of his evaluation of Simpson when he was with the Packers. “I know what he’s all about. I know his makeup. He’s a tough player. He loves football. He’s gotten stronger since the last time I’ve seen him, so I’m excited that he’ll have an opportunity.”
With a practice squad spot available, Miami signed long snapper Cal Adomitis. If Tucker Addington is unable to play through the shoulder injury he suffered in the opener, Adomitis, who has appeared in 58 career games between the Bengals (2022-24) and Philadelphia Eagles (2025), will be elevated for game day.
Practice report
The Dolphins had all 53 players on the active roster seen on the field, but linebacker Ronnie Harrison Jr. was seen working out on the side as he recovers from aggravating a hamstring injury in the season-opening loss.
Dolphins wide receiver Chris Bell was seen wearing a sleeve on his left leg at drills.
Cap space created
The Dolphins executed four minor restructures to save a bit more than $2.5 million in salary cap space this season, according to Spotrac.com and OverTheCap.com.
The moves: They converted $1.51 million of right tackle Austin Jackson’s per-game bonus, creating $1.2 million; converted $341,000 of tight end Greg Dulcich’s per-game bonus, creating $272,000; converted $792,000 of cornerback JuJu Brents’ salary, creating $634,000; and converted $511,000 of defensive tackle Zach Sieler’s per-game bonus, creating $408,000.
Miami now has $9 million in room under the cap.
This story will be updated.