Dolphins sign DT Williams
DAVIE — The Miami Dolphins signed another defensive lineman to help shore up a porous run defense, while activating a player from injured reserve on Wednesday.
Along with officially signing 10-year veteran defensive tackle Ziggy Hood, the Dolphins added six-year veteran defensive tackle Sylvester Williams to help a run defense that has allowed a glaring 878 rushing yards over the last five games.
“I’m coming to give it everything I’ve got,” Williams said. “We’ve got eight regular-season games, so whatever I bring as a player you’ve got to turn your TV on on Sunday and you’ll see.
“They just told me to come in and work my butt off and learn the playbook — that’s what I’m trying to do right now. Obviously, we have to stop the run like the other 31 teams in the NFL and hopefully I can provide ... help doing that.”
The Dolphins also activated linebacker Mike Hull from injured reserve. Hull returned to practice on Oct. 17 after suffering a knee injury during the preseason.
“I’ve been doing rehab for a lot of months, so I’m ready to get back out there and play real football,” Hull said.
Hull, who has played in 35 career games with four starts for the Dolphins, will likely see playing time on special teams. He has 27 career special teams tackles (19 solo) and finished third in the NFL with 18 special teams tackles in 2016. During his career, Hull has 42 tackles (27 solo), one interception, one pass deflection and one fumble recovery.
“[My role will] mostly just be for core special teams guy for the foreseeable future, which is pretty much why I’ve been here for as long as I have,” Hull said. “Just be a leader in those phases and help try to steer the ship in the right way.”
Williams — a former first-round pick in 2013, who has played in Denver, Tennessee and Detroit — joins an injury-depleted defensive line.
Williams has played in 81 career games (63 starts) with 120 tackles, six sacks, two passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He played in six games with four starts for the Lions this season, totaling six tackles (four solo), before he was released on Oct. 25.
Hood, who played his last three seasons in Washington, agreed to sign with the Dolphins after a visit on Tuesday.
“It was exciting [getting the call],” he said. “I’m 31 years old; 10 years in [the league], so it’s a good feeling when somebody’s reaching out to get you.”
“I played with [Andre] Branch in Jacksonville, so I’m familiar with him and not only that, but the dline room is real funny so I like to be around that environment.”
The signings of Hood and Williams come after defensive tackle Vincent Taylor was placed on injured reserve Tuesday after suffering a foot injury against Houston last week.
Defensive end Charles Harris, a former firstround pick, has missed the past two games with a calf injury that had him in a walking boot. It’s unclear when he’ll practice.
Defensive tackle William Hayes suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 3, while defensive ends Cameron Wake and Andre Branch have returned after their respective knee injuries kept them both sidelined for two games.