Jeff Hafley excited to see what signing can do in 'prove-it' year
· Yahoo Sports
After trading Jaelan Phillips at the deadline last year and cutting Bradley Chubb earlier this offseason, the Miami Dolphins brought in a few veterans and rookies to compete for spots in the pass-rushing rotation in training camp.
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Among those newcomers to South Florida is Joshua Uche, who is actually returning to the area after playing high school football at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami.
Beyond Chop Robinson, there are really no guaranteed spots on the depth chart on the edge, so Uche will have an opportunity to prove himself over the next few weeks to try to earn snaps in the regular season, and his work is something that head coach Jeff Hafley is excited to see.
"In just watching him over the years, he's had some really good seasons. He's had production, he's had sacks. Even going back and watching him last year in Philly when he was playing, he's had moments where he's played the run really well," Hafley said during his media availability on Thursday. "He's a guy that's tasted success in this league, and I think he's probably been humbled and motivated by last year being inactive for a bunch. But seeing a guy and like a lot of guys that we have on this roster right now, he is at the point of his career where it's a ‘prove it’ year. It's a ‘prove it’ year for himself. It's a chance for him to say, ‘I can still do this.’
"There’s a lot that goes into that and I've noticed how hard he's been working. He's a very mature person. He's very smart, and he's been here working throughout the summer. And we need to get everything out of him as coaches. I think Austin (Clark) and those guys will do that, but I'm excited to see what he can do."
Uche spent four seasons at Michigan from 2016-19, earning All-Big Ten honors in his final season. The New England Patriots took him in the second round (No. 60 overall) of the 2020 NFL draft. They traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024, and he spent the 2025 season with the Philadelphia Eagles.
In 76 games over six years in the league, Uche has recorded 109 tackles, 37 quarterback hits, 21.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. Outside of 2022, when he had 11.5 sacks, he's never had more than three in a single season.
Considering his competition, Uche should be able to have a rather large role in the group, but we'll have to see how it all plays out in camp, especially once pads come on.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Jeff Hafley excited to see what signing can do in 'prove-it' year