The Miami Dolphins claimed wide receiver Jared Wayne off waivers from the Houston Texans on Monday as they looked to reshape their receiving corps during the bye week.
To clear space on the 53-man roster, the Dolphins waived Ryan Miller, who had been claimed off waivers from the New York Giants in late August.
Wayne appeared in all five of Houston’s games this season before the move. He finished with four receptions for 65 yards on 12 targets, averaging 16.3 yards per catch, and also contributed on special teams.
Over the previous two seasons combined, Wayne played in four games for the Texans and recorded two catches for 20 yards.
He became expendable after Houston acquired Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Arizona Cardinals. The trade sent Harrison and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Texans in exchange for 2027 second- and seventh-round selections.
Wayne, a 26-year-old Canadian from Peterborough, Ontario, stands 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds. He went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft after a productive career at Pittsburgh, where he earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2022.
That senior season he caught 60 passes for 1,063 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 17.7 yards per reception. Across four college seasons he totaled 146 receptions for 2,308 yards and 13 scores.
In nine career NFL games entering the claim, Wayne has six receptions for 85 yards.
Miller, also 26 and listed at 6-foot-2 and 221 pounds, had been a regular on Miami’s special teams through the first five games. He caught three passes for 92 yards and one touchdown, including a 77-yard score against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 that marked the first touchdown pass of Malik Willis’ career as a Dolphin starter.
The Dolphins entered the bye week at 0-5 after a 31-24 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Willis remains the starting quarterback, according to coach Jeff Hafley.
In related transactions, Miami signed defensive lineman Jordan Jefferson to the practice squad and released defensive lineman Mazi Smith. Jefferson, a 2024 fourth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, has recorded 12 tackles and one sack across limited appearances with multiple teams.
Smith, a 2023 first-round selection by the Dallas Cowboys, had been elevated from the practice squad earlier in the season and appeared in games for Miami after stints with the Cowboys and Jets.
Wayne’s size and college production offer Miami another option in a receiving group that has struggled to generate consistent big plays. He is eligible for restricted free agency after the 2026 season.
The Dolphins return to action Oct. 25 at the New York Jets.
