With the Miami Dolphins veterans set to begin training camp, two of the key players in the secondary have received an unfortunate injury designation.
Cornerbacks Darrell Baker Jr. and Storm Duck have been placed on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list ahead of training camp. Considering the team's need for players to remain healthy in the secondary, this is certainly not a great place to be for the defense.
Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley indicated during minicamp in June that he "wished" Baker and Duck were moving along a lot quicker, pointing to their respective injuries being a bit more significant than he had hoped. With them joining the PUP list, this could complicate things for the Miami defense.
Hafley is a cornerbacks expert, who worked his way up the ranks of the collegiate and NFL world as a defensive backs coach, and it makes sense why he sounded frustrated when delivering the news about the pair then. Now, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan may need to start bringing in more veteran talent.
A name the Dolphins could explore is Trevon Diggs . The former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers corner had some injury issues of his own in recent seasons, but he bounced back in 2025.
Considering Hafley and Sullivan were members of the Packers in 2025, they may have some familiarity with Diggs.
Baker spent the past two seasons with the Tennessee Titans, starting 19 games and picking up 12 passes defended and 95 total tackles. He was a veteran player the Miami defense was hoping to emerge as a strong starting talent, but his undisclosed injury continues to be troublesome.
Duck suffered a season-ending injury in 2025 and has not quite hit his stride with the Dolphins. He was also a veteran that Hafley was hoping he could rely on.
There is no telling what may come of the injury designations for both, but it would not be the least bit shocking if Hafley were to request more low-cost veterans or any secondary veteran be brought in.
Baker and Duck now join rookie Chris Bell, who was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list to start training camp.
