Dolphins bring in veteran linebacker options for workouts after Trey Moore ankle injury

The Miami Dolphins have invited free agent linebackers to work out with the team as they respond to an injury concern in their young depth chart. On Monday, the organization opened its facilities to additional linebacker competition, according to reports tied to coach and staff availability during the current practice window.

The immediate reason is a setback to rookie linebacker Trey Moore, who head coach Jeff Hafley said would “definitely miss some time with an ankle.” Hafley’s comments, reported by Yahoo Sports, framed Moore as the player who had been in position to contribute early, making the next roster decisions more urgent than they would have been otherwise.

Among the linebackers reportedly meeting with the coaching staff are Jaheim Thomas and Kenneth Murray, who were described as being in South Florida for workouts. The Dolphins’ decision to bring in outside options suggests the team wants multiple looks quickly, both to fill snaps and to reduce the risk of being thin at a position where schemes often demand specialized coverage and run fits.

While Moore’s injury is the catalyst, the Dolphins’ response also reflects how teams manage preparation around training camp and preseason phases. Linebackers are central to defensive communication, run-stopping assignments, and in many coverages, moving parts that have to sync with the rest of the secondary. When a player who is “in line” to start is sidelined, the replacement needs time to learn calls and match the coaching emphasis.

Hafley’s public framing of Moore’s ankle also sets expectations for the team’s internal timeline. A rookie who is described as poised for immediate impact typically becomes part of the defensive core during early-week repetitions. Missing time can slow that development, and it also shifts responsibility to teammates and new additions, increasing the importance of who earns trust during reps.

For Thomas and Murray, a workout invitation is both an opportunity and a test. The Dolphins can evaluate current physical readiness, learning speed, and how quickly each player fits the staff’s linebacker role. If the Dolphins are comfortable with one or more of those options, it could stabilize their depth group and lessen the need for additional midstream changes.

Going forward, the key question is how the Dolphins will structure the linebacker rotation without Moore for the next stretch. The team will likely prioritize finding dependable coverage and run support while keeping practice reps flowing for the rest of the unit. Moore’s return timetable, while not defined in the report, will be the deciding factor in how long the Dolphins keep these auditions going.