Phillip Dorsett’s long NFL journey took another turn Friday when the Las Vegas Raiders released the former Miami Hurricanes standout from their practice squad, via the NFL transaction wire.
The move came as the team signed tight end Carter Runyon, ending Dorsett’s latest stint with the franchise that began when he rejoined the practice squad on September 29.
For Hurricanes fans, the news serves as another reminder of the Fort Lauderdale native’s path from explosive college playmaker to veteran depth piece.
Dorsett starred at St. Thomas Aquinas High School before joining Miami from 2011 to 2014.
He finished his Canes career with 121 receptions for 2,132 yards and 17 touchdowns, including a senior season in which he started all 13 games, posted 36 catches for 871 yards and 10 scores, and earned second-team All-ACC honors.
His elite speed—he also competed in track at Miami—made him a big-play threat who frequently turned short throws into long gains.
That production earned him a first-round selection (29th overall) by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2015 NFL Draft. Dorsett spent two seasons in Indianapolis before joining the New England Patriots, where he won a Super Bowl and played alongside Tom Brady.
He later had stops with the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, and Atlanta Falcons, totaling 151 career receptions for 2,001 yards and 12 touchdowns across parts of eight regular seasons.
His last regular-season action came in 2023 with the Broncos, when he appeared in two games and was targeted three times without a catch.
In recent years, Dorsett has largely been a practice-squad regular. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Raiders in January 2026, was released at the end of training camp in late August, and returned to the practice squad in late September.
The 33-year-old (he turns 34 in January) spent more than a month with Las Vegas without appearing in a game before Friday’s corresponding move with Runyon.
From a Miami perspective, Dorsett remains a notable product of the Hurricanes’ wide-receiver pipeline—an undersized but explosive first-round talent whose speed and big-play ability carried him into the league and sustained a decade-long career.
While his peak years are behind him and regular-season snaps have been scarce since 2022, his continued presence on NFL practice squads reflects the value teams still place on experienced depth with special-teams versatility and proven deep-threat ability from his Canes days.
At 33, opportunities may continue to come in short bursts as teams manage late-season rosters, but the Fort Lauderdale product’s journey from Hard Rock Stadium to the NFL is a lasting part of recent Miami football history.
