A week after being suspended indefinitely, defensive end Derrick Shelby has been reinstated by the Dolphins, a league source tells Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. Shelby was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on October 4 for trespassing and resisting arrest, charges which his agent argued were unwarranted.
As Smith notes, personal conduct policy is under the purview of the league, not teams, so it’s possible that the NFLPA leaned on the Dolphins to allow Shelby to return to action. Given the numerous off-the-field incidents that have occurred around the NFL during the year, it’s not surprising that Miami acted swiftly in responding to this incident. However, Shelby’s take on what happened is quite different from the story put forth by authorities, so it would be tough for the Dolphins to continue to discipline him until the situation is resolved.
Shelby, 25, saw 127 snaps over three games before his suspension. The 25-year-old Utah product joined the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He’ll return as a reserve on a defensive line that features Cameron Wake, Randy Starks, and Earl Mitchell.
Miami will need to make a roster move to clear a spot for Shelby as its roster currently sits at 53.