Former Jet Quinton Coples quiet in his debut with Dolphins

Six days after being cut by the Jets, former first-round pick Quinton Coples returned to MetLife Stadium Sunday as a member of the Dolphins.

Coples was greeted with boos when his name was announced for making a first-quarter tackle on Ryan Fitzpatrick that later was officially credited to someone else in the Jets' 38-20 victory. He also was greeted by an ESPN.com report that said the Jets decided to cut him after an unspecified "incident" on the team plane after last Sunday's loss in Houston.

"I don't know where that came from," Coples said. "Only thing was I didn't fit in the defense. That's why the decision was made."

Asked if there was an incident on the plane, Coples said: "Not to my knowledge . . . People talk every day. That's what people do. They talk about Jesus. Who am I that they're not going to say something about me? It is what it is. Like I said, I didn't fit into the defense. That's why the move was made."

Jets coach Todd Bowles said the report about an incident on the plane was "not at all" accurate. "Q's a great guy," Bowles added.

But he has not been the great player former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum hoped for when he drafted Coples with the 16th pick in 2012. Tannenbaum, who now runs the Dolphins, claimed Coples for Miami after the Jets cut him. The Dolphins moved Coples back to his preferred defensive end spot after the Jets tried him as an outside linebacker.

Coples had little impact Sunday. Officially, his only line on the stat sheet was one hit on Fitzpatrick. He also drew a holding penalty on Breno Giacomini. Still, Coples felt positive about his Dolphins debut.

"It was good," Coples said. "I think I played well. We didn't get the win, so that's the most important thing, but at the end of the day, from a performance standpoint, I think I did well. There's always room to get better. So I'll go to the film room tomorrow and see what I need to do to work on getting better."

Coples said he has no hard feelings toward the Jets yet answered "no" when asked if he thought he was given an opportunity from the new coaching staff. Coples took but five snaps in his final game as a Jet last Sunday.

"I mean, they didn't play me, so there was no opportunity," he said. "[With Miami] I got my hand in the dirt. With the Jets, I was asked to do other things, but graded on sacks. Now I've got my hand in the dirt so I can rush the QB. That's good. Feels good."

By Anthony Rieber

anthony.rieber@newsday.comAnthonyRieber

Anthony Rieber covers sports media and business and professional sports (you know, games and trades and things). He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since Jan. 1, 2026.