Joshua Uche signs with Dolphins as Eagles’ pass rush reshapes for 2026
joshua uche is not returning to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2026, and the free agent pass rusher is instead headed to the Miami Dolphins on a one-year contract.
Joshua Uche exits Philadelphia after an uneven role in 2025
The Eagles originally signed joshua uche in free agency around this time last offseason, with the idea that he would compete for a place in the team’s pass rush rotation. In the first eight games of the 2025 season, he played rotational snaps and produced one sack and three quarterback hits.
After that early stretch, his defensive role largely disappeared. He did not play a single defensive snap for the rest of the season, except for an appearance when Philadelphia rested starters in Week 18. The shift was notable given that he had been a visible part of the rotation earlier in the year.
One evaluation referenced during his stint in Philadelphia added to the contrast: Pro Football Focus graded him as the Eagles’ highest-graded defender last year. The same discussion also acknowledged skepticism about that specific ranking while still framing him as more useful than being completely out of the defensive plan.
What happens when the Eagles lose another pass rusher in free agency?
joshua uche’s move to Miami comes at a moment when Philadelphia is described as needing pass rushers. The Eagles also lost Jaelan Phillips in free agency, thinning the edge group further. With that departure, Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith are identified as the only two credible edge rushers on the roster right now.
There was also context for why Uche’s role faded: Philadelphia’s decision to trade for Jaelan Phillips and to re-sign Brandon Graham left joshua uche without a clear spot. Additionally, the discussion around his usage pointed to Vic Fangio’s lack of enthusiasm for giving him snaps, while also emphasizing that the defensive coordinator has earned trust in those decisions.
Looking ahead, Philadelphia has been linked in rumor to potential interest in Jonathan Greenard and Maxx Crosby, with the idea that added help could come through a trade or other means. Whether the Eagles can land reinforcements remains uncertain, but the immediate takeaway is that Uche’s departure sharpens the focus on the team’s next move at edge rusher.
What happens next in Miami for Joshua Uche?
For the Dolphins, the addition brings in a pass rusher who began last season with a defined rotational role before falling out of the weekly defensive snap count in Philadelphia. The move sets up a straightforward question that will be answered on the field: whether joshua uche finds success in Miami, or whether he again struggles to secure a steady role in a new defensive environment.
In Philadelphia, his exit also creates a smaller but notable ripple: his departure means the Eagles could have a new player wearing the No. 0 jersey for the fourth time in four seasons, following D’Andre Swift in 2023, Bryce Huff in 2024, and Josh Uche in 2025.
