Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said the team had no knowledge pass rusher Shaquil Barrett was reconsidering his July retirement and he hasn’t yet figured out what the team should do about the two-time Pro Bowler’s decision to apply for immediate reinstatement.
“There’s a reason why you target and sign somebody,” McDaniel told reporters Tuesday. “I was fully caught off guard or caught by surprise this morning as I found out. I really haven’t had a chance to think about it. I think the team is counting on me to think about the Packers.
“I’ll get with [general manager] Chris [Grier] and we will work through that. But there’s a ton of implications that go through that with team and roster stuff. So we’ll work through that as we just got the news today.”
Barrett signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in March and participated in the team’s offseason program, but retired just days before training camp was set to begin. According to McDaniel, that’s the last the team heard from Barrett.
“That’s why it’s just kind of news as you got it, it is to us. We’ll sort through that. The Tuesday before a Thursday night game, it’s tough. I’ve gotta talk to Chris first.”
Barrett is reportedly open to the idea of continuing his NFL by playing with the Dolphins, but it remains to be seen if the team will welcome him back. After struggling to generate a pass rush early in the season, rookie first-round pick Chop Robinson has emerged as a dynamic threat off the edge in recent weeks.
The team also has linebackers Cameron Goode and Bradley Chubb on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, and anticipates both returning to play at some point this season.
Barrett, 32, began his career with the Denver Broncos, but emerged as one of the NFL’s top pass rushers with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first season with the Bucs, Barrett led the NFL with 19.5 sacks. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2019 and 2021, and recorded 45 sacks in five seasons with the team.
