Breaking down the Miami Dolphins’ roster and the looming cuts to 53 by Saturday deadline
During a year — any year — when there’s not a pandemic, players on the NFL’s proverbial bubble would be gearing up for a fourth preseason game, hoping to make one final impression for all 32 teams before hundreds of them are released this weekend.
But that’s one of a zillion things different about this NFL season, amid a global health crisis.
The Dolphins will make decisions on their final roster spots after a few practices that will be seen this week only by the coaching staff and front office. And Dolphins coach Brian Flores said Tuesday he already has a good idea of the players he wants to keep.
A speculative look at where things stand at each position:
▪ Quarterback (three for the 53-man roster): Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tua Tagovailoa and Josh Rosen will be on the team, and the only question is which of the two top-10 picks will win the No. 2 job behind Fitzpatrick, the presumptive starter.
Tagovailoa was given every opportunity to earn the backup job in the final week of training camp and played generally well before guiding drives that led to only six points on 7 ½ possessions in the scrimmage. Rosen has been uneven all camp.
Flores acknowledges that Tagovailoa’s long-term health — nine months removed from major hip surgery — will be a consideration when deciding whether to activate him on game-day.
“That is definitely part of the conversation,” Flores said. “We’re at 10 months. It was a pretty serious injury. He looks good, though. You guys have seen him. Good, healthy, moving around to his right to his left. [But] that’s part of the conversation. He’s a great kid. I care about him. I want what’s best for him.”
▪ Running back (four or five): Jordan Howard and Matt Breida very likely will be Miami’s 1 and 1A in some order, and Myles Gaskin has made a strong case to be the third-most-used back.
That leaves Patrick Laird, newcomer Salvon Ahmad and practically every NFL back who’s soon to be waivers competing for potentially one other spot. Laird recently missed a week with a shoulder injury after stretching out to catch a poorly-thrown Tagovailoa pass.
Chandler Cox has had some good moments in camp, but it might be difficult to justify using a roster spot on a fullback when linebacker Elandon Roberts has experience with the Patriots in that role.
Asked if he wants Roberts playing any fullback, Flores said Tuesday: “Definitely a possibility, I would say that, but it’s not something that we’re going to make any definitive decisions on right now.”
▪ Wide receiver (six); DeVante Parker, Preston Williams and Jakeem Grant are automatic, Malcolm Perry is very likely and Isaiah Ford looks likely to stick.
That’s five, leaving Mack Hollins as the front-runner for the sixth job after the release of Chester Rogers and Ricardo Louis on Tuesday. Hollins has had a pretty good camp and his versatility (he can even fill in as a long snapper) gave him an edge.
Gary Jennings, who hasn’t made much impact in this camp, and rookies Matt Cole and Kirk Merritt are candidates for the practice squad.
▪ Tight end (three): Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe are automatic and Adam Shaheen has made a strong case in recent days to join Smythe as the second in-line tight end on the roster. Chris Myarick and Nate Wieting are possibilities for the practice squad.
▪ Offensive line (9, 10 or 11): Austin Jackson, Robert Hunt, Solomon Kindley, Ereck Flowers, Ted Karras and Jesse Davis are automatic. That’s six.
Julien Davenport seems likely to stick because Miami needs a veteran backup tackle and someone to push Jackson; “I’ve been very happy with him,” Flores said. So that’s seven.
Michael Deiter, a third-round pick in 2019 and starter at guard last year, appears likely to make it as a backup center and backup guard. So that’s eight.
That leaves veteran tackle Adam Pankey, undrafted rookie tackle Jonathan Hubbard and guards Danny Isidora and Shaq Calhoun, guard/center Keaton Sutherland and project guard Durval Queiroz-Neto competing for two or three spots.
Whoever makes the Dolphins from that bubble group would stand at risk of being replaced by a waiver claim this weekend.
If Neto is waived and not claimed by another team, the Dolphins can use an exemption to keep him as a 17th player on the practice squad. But they could not keep him as a 54th player on the 53-man roster.
▪ Defensive line (8 or 9): Shaq Lawson, Emmanuel Ogbah, Christian Wilkins, Davon Godchaux, Raekwon Davis and Jason Strowbridge are automatic. That’s six.
That leaves perhaps two or three among Sieler (had a solid camp and was excellent in Week 16 last year), Brandin Bryant and undrafted rookies Tyshun Render and Benito Jones. Avery Moss was waived Tuesday.
Sieler might initially stick on the 53, but would be at risk if Miami finds someone else on waivers that it prefers.
▪ Linebacker (7 or 8): Kyle Van Noy, Jerome Baker, Elandon Roberts, Kamu Grugier-Hill and Andrew Van Ginkel are automatic.
Sam Eguavoen (3.5 sacks last season) has a decent shot to stick, but it’s hardly automatic. Trent Harris and Calvin Munson sit very much on the bubble, and undrafted rookie Kylan Johnson is a long shot for the 53. Miami figures to scan the waiver wire on Saturday night.
▪ Defensive backs (10 or 11): Bobby McCain, Eric Rowe and third-round rookie Brandon Jones are automatic at safety, and special teams ace Clayton Fejedelem seems likely to stick as a fourth. A strong case also could be made for Kavon Frazier, who appeared in 44 games for the Cowboys and has special teams value.
But can you justify keeping five safeties? Nate Holley, last season’s CFL rookie of the year, and Nate Brooks face an uphill climb to make the 53. Safety Jeremiah Dinson was waived Tuesday.
At cornerback, Xavien Howard, Byron Jones and Noah Igbinoghene are on the team, and Nik Needham seems likely to stick as a fourth.
That leaves Jamal Perry (formerly Jomal Wiltz), Tae Hayes and Breon Borders competing for perhaps two cornerback jobs.
Jamal Perry is on most special teams units and was Miami’s starting nickel corner last season. Hayes and Borders seemed to make more plays than competing young cornerbacks Ken Webster and Deitrick Nichols during the 10 open-media practices. Nichols was waived Tuesday.
▪ Special teams: Kicker Jason Sanders, punter Matt Haack and long snapper Blake Ferguson don’t have competition.
Teams must cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Saturday but can promote two players from their practice squad each week to have a roster of 55.
Here’s a look at what Flores was talking about today.
This story was originally published September 1, 2020 at 2:02 PM.
