Dolphins place Tahj Washington on IR, likely ending rookie year

Miami Dolphins seventh-round pick Tahj Washington may miss his entire rookie season after landing on the team’s injured reserve Tuesday.

The nature of Washington’s injury isn’t yet known. The rookie wide receiver participated in the team’s offseason program earlier in the year, but was placed on the PUP list upon reporting to training camp last week.

In previous seasons, landing on injured reserve prior to the regular season guaranteed a player would miss the remainder of the year. However, a rule change means the Dolphins could pull up to two players off the IR when they set their 53-man roster at the end of August.

The likelihood that they’d do so to ensure a seventh-round rookie is on their 53-man roster without much work in camp and preseason is slim.

While a lost rookie season isn’t ideal, a redshirt year may not be the worst idea for Washington. On a roster loaded at the receiver position with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Odell Beckham Jr. leading the way, a roster spot was far from a guarantee for Washington.

By keeping the seventh-round pick on the injured reserve, the Dolphins won’t have to waive Washington in hopes of retaining him on the practice squad.

In addition to placing Washington on the IR, the Dolphins placed Beckham on the PUP list and signed wide receiver Kyric McGowan.

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