Dolphins add DT Sylvester Williams, Activate LB Mike Hull

The Miami Dolphins announced on Wednesday the signing of defensive tackle Sylvester Williams and the activation of linebacker Mike Hull from the team’s injured reserve list. The team also made official the signing of defensive end Ziggy Hood, as was reported yesterday.

The Dolphins had three roster spots open, with Hood filling the one created when the team placed defensive tackle Vincent Taylor on injured reserve on Tuesday following a foot injury sustained against the Houston Texans last week. The other two roster spots were created earlier in the week when the team released safety Maurice Smith and rookie defensive tackle Jamiyus Pittman. Miami also has offensive lineman Jake Brendel eligible for return from the injured reserve list.

Williams, a six-year veteran, was drafted in the first round in 2013 by the Denver Broncos. He played for Denver from 2013 through 2016, then spent 2017 with the Tennessee Titans before starting the 2018 season with the Detroit Lions. He appeared in the first six games of the season with Detroit, starting four times, before being released earlier this week. He has 81 career appearances with 63 of those as a starter, recording two passes defensed, one fumble recovery, 120 tackles, and six sacks. He had six tackles this season.

Hull signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He spent much of his rookie season on the practice squad, appearing in just three games that year. In 2016 and 2017, Hull played in all 32, with a career total of one interception, one fumble recovery, and 42 tackles. Hull sustained a knee injury in the preseason which sidelined him for the first half of the year.

Miami has been dealing with multiple defensive line injuries this year, weakening what had been seen as a strength of the team prior to the start of the season. William Hayes, who was playing both defensive end and defensive tackle, in on injured reserve after tearing his ACL trying to avoid an unnecessary roughness penalty for landing with all of his body weight on the quarterback during a sack. Defensive ends Cameron Wake and Andre Branch have both been struggling through knee injuries, though they were both active for last week’s game against the Texans. Second-year defensive end Charles Harris has missed the last two weeks with a calf injury and there is no timetable for his return as of yet. The Dolphins released defensive tackle Jordan Phillips at the start of October after inconsistent play and sideline theatrics; Phillips joined Miami’s AFC East rival Buffalo Bills and has made sure to use social media to comment on any struggles Miami has had since his release.