What to Know About Miami Dolphins LB Trey Moore's Status and Other Injury Updates

The rookie fourth-round pick sustained an ankle injury in the preseason loss against the New York Giants

Miami Dolphins linebacker Trey Moore (17) exits the game after an apparent leg injury against the New York Giants during the first half during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Miami Dolphins almost assuredly will be starting the season without promising rookie linebacker Trey Moore, and that might be the best-case scenario.

Head coach Jeff Hafley revealed during a Zoom media session Sunday that the fourth-round pick would be out for an indefinite period of time because of the ankle injury he sustained early in the 26-3 preseason loss against the New York Giants at Hard Rock Stadium.

"Trey will miss some time," Hafley said. "You know, I don't see him back being soon. I'm not sure how long it will be. I think we'll determine that later when all the testing is done. But Trey will definitely miss some time with an ankle."

Hafley also said that fellow linebacker Ronnie Harrison Jr. likely would be out next week because of a hamstring injury he sustained against the Giants, but had better news regarding running back Ollie Gordon II. Hafley said Gordon sustained a rib injury while being tackled in the first half, but was cleared to return and the Dolphins simply decided to keep him out the rest of the game.

Additionally, there's a chance quarterback Quinn Ewers could be back at practice this week after missing last week with what was reported as a groin injury.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR MOORE

Based on Hafley's comments, it seems almost a certainty that Moore will wind up on injured reserve, the only question being when that move will be made.

If the Dolphins place Moore on IR anytime before the cuts to 53 next Sunday (August 30), then he'll be done for the season — unless he's waived off IR, which isn't going to happen.

If the injury isn't so serious that Moore can return in 2026, the Dolphins also could put Moore on IR exactly on August 30 as one of their two allowed moves of placing a player on IR in the cuts to 53 and designating him to return.

Another option would be to carry Moore on the initial 53 and then place him on IR the next day, which would make him eligible to be designated to return this season.

Of course, it's not impossible that further tests indicate an injury not so severe that the Dolphins have to put him on IR at all, though Hafley's words and tone certainly didn't suggest that as very likely.

THE OUTLOOK AT LINEBACKER

Moore obviously was a lock to make the 53 before the injury, considering he seemingly already had earned a starting spot and his absence would open a roster spot for another linebacker to make the team.

Moore is the only player on the roster listed as an edge/linebacker, though his role looks more like linebacker than edge.

The other linebackers on the roster are Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson, Willie Gay Jr., Harrison, Jacob Rodriguez, Kyle Louis, Jackson Woodard, and newcomers Cam Riley and Stephen Dix Jr.

Louis will make the 53-man roster, but he's also been getting snaps at safety.

Brooks and Rodriguez should be the only sure things to be on the 53 to start the season, though we'd suspect they'll be joined by Harrison and Dodson, with other possibilities led by Woodard and Gay.

The bottom line is that this is obviously a disappointing development for the Dolphins, and now we wait to see exactly how bad the injury is.