The Miami Dolphins are all-in on a youth movement.
Minutes before insiders reported the franchise’s quarterback pivot from Tua Tagovailoa to Quinn Ewers, the team released veteran edge rusher Matt Judon, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
The news comes just two days after Judon made his third start in Miami. In his 13 appearances with the Dolphins, Judon racked up 19 combined tackles, one tackle for loss and three quarterback hits.
A 10-year veteran, Judon will now be free to sign with a playoff-bound team in need of extra help on the edge.
The immediate beneficiary from Judon’s release will be second-year pro Chop Robinson. When the Dolphins dealt edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a third-round pick at the trade deadline, Robinson was supposed to be the starter — that is, until Judon first trotted out onto the field vs. the Washington Commanders. Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, however, chalked it up to the look that the Commanders presented.
“I know he didn’t start last game, but that was all package based,” Weaver said Nov. 24 prior to the Dolphins’ matchup with the New Orleans Saints. “I’m not trying to put him in as a primary cover guy where Matt Judon has done that job throughout his entire career, so we felt comfortable there. If they would’ve came out in a smaller grouping then Chop would’ve started the game. I’m happy with where Chop is at, and again, the more he’s out there, the more I expect to feel him on Sundays.”
Robinson would proceed to have arguably his best game of the season against the Saints, recording 1.5 sacks, a tackle for loss and three quarterback hits.
This story was originally published December 17, 2025 at 10:48 AM.
C. Isaiah Smalls II
Miami Herald
C. Isaiah Smalls II is a sports and culture writer who covers the Miami Dolphins. In his previous capacity at the Miami Herald, he was the race and culture reporter who created The 44 Percent, a newsletter dedicated to the Black men who voted to incorporate the city of Miami. A graduate of both Morehouse College and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, Smalls previously worked for ESPN’s Andscape.
