MIAMI GARDENS -- On the day after Christmas, the Miami Dolphins granted veteran edge rusher Shaquil Barrett his wish.

The Dolphins on Thursday, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus, are waiving Barrett, the 32-year-old defender who signed with the team in March, retired in July and wanted to return from retirement in November.

The Dolphins opted against activating Barrett from the reserve/retired list on Nov. 28, when he expressed his wishes to unretire. That made it so he wouldn't be eligible to play for Miami for the rest of the season. They also at that time decided not to release him, which would've allowed him to play for another team.

Now that the team did grant Barrett the opportunity to play elsewhere, he is first subject to waivers. But if a team claims him off waivers, he's in the same boat he was in with the Dolphins.

Barrett can sign with any team, likely a contender bound for the playoffs, if he clears waivers Friday.

Rosenhaus told ESPN, which first reported the latest news on Barrett, that his client is in great shape and ready to play immediately.