The Dolphins’ second preseason game against the Giants on Saturday may not feature much from the starters, but that doesn’t mean it’s short on consequences. For a handful of Miami players, this is the kind of night that can move a roster battle from “still open” to nearly over.
With one preseason game left after this, fringe players know the clock is ticking. And because Miami and New York already practiced together on Thursday, there’s a good chance a lot of the bigger names will either sit or barely play, leaving more snaps for the guys fighting to stick.
One of the clearest chances to make a move belongs to Ben Sims. He sits ahead of D.J.
Herman on the depth chart, and both players are listed as hybrid FB/TE options. Herman has flashed in camp, while Sims has had his uneven moments, but Saturday offers both of them a real shot to prove they belong.
Miami is expected to keep only 3 to 4 tight ends and no more than 4 running backs, so this spot could end up being the one that decides whether the Dolphins split the job between two positions or lean one way. Sims has the experience edge, and a strong outing could give him the insurance he needs to make the roster and send Herman to the practice squad.
Alex Austin is in a different kind of battle. He’s been one of the sharper corners in camp and is pushing not just for a 53-man roster spot, but also for work inside as a nickel corner.
He’s currently listed behind Chris Johnson at nickel, but Johnson is set to begin his NFL career on the boundary, which leaves Austin with a clean path to the job. That path gets even clearer with JuJu Brents still banged up.
Another steady performance against the Giants would go a long way toward ending any debate about Austin’s roster status.
Then there’s Cameron Goode, who may be running out of time. He’s already fourth on the depth chart among the Dolphins’ edge rushing linebackers, and the road in front of him is steep with six players ahead of him.
Mason Reiger being waived with an injury opened a small window, but Goode still needs a strong showing Saturday to keep that door from closing. If he doesn’t make the final 53, he’ll be the last member of Miami’s 2022 draft class to move on.
As a 7th-round pick, he has outlasted most of that group, but this could be his final chance to prove he can give the Dolphins depth and value.
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The edge-rusher situation looks even more pressing now after Derek Barnett signed with the Browns, removing one of the more obvious veteran options from the board. Miami is expected to keep scanning the waiver wire for help, and the pass-rushing corps has become one of the more important areas to watch as the team tries to shore up the back end of the defense before the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Jevon Holland Just Gave Dolphins Fans A New Reason To Revisit His Exit
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Hollands exit landed in the middle of broader changes around the franchise, with Miamis management structure shifting and free agency offering a different path than the one both sides might have imagined a year earlier. Even in a preseason setting, the matchup gave the Dolphins another look at a player they know well, and Hollands post only added to the sense that this separation still carries some sting. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins May Be Forced Into Another Former First-Round Gamble
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Murray, once a Chargers first-rounder and later with the Titans and Cowboys, is one of several unsigned former first-round free agents under 30 who could still draw interest around the league. For Miami, the question is less about pedigree than fit and availability, and whether another reclamation project can provide immediate depth without forcing the front office into a long-term commitment. [Read more 🡒]