The Miami Dolphins made a loud statement at the bottom of their roster when they claimed a league-high seven players off waivers after the NFL’s cutdown to 53. Just as telling is how little traction the players the Dolphins let go have found elsewhere.
After accounting for players waived injured - and therefore not necessarily ready to latch on with another team - Miami cut 28 players in August and the first days of September. So far, not one of those 37 players has landed on another team’s 53-man roster.
Only three have found practice-squad homes: linebacker Tyrel Dodson with the Carolina Panthers, wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. with the Los Angeles Chargers, and rookie edge defender Mason Rieger with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Nine others wound up back on Miami’s practice squad, including cornerback Ethan Bonner, who initially survived on the 53-man roster before ending up back with the Dolphins.
The rest have mostly been left waiting. Edge rusher David Ojabo got a tryout with the Las Vegas Raiders, wide receiver AJ Henning tried out for the Minnesota Vikings, and wide receiver Tahj Washington worked out for the New York Jets.
Among the players waived by Miami were CB Miles Battle, WR Donaven McCulley, CB Jai'Onte' McMillan, QB Cam Miller, DT Fatorma Mulbah, CB Alex Austin, RB Coleman Bennett, T Kevin Cline, EDGE Seth Coleman-Lyles, TE Ethan Conner, ILB Stephen Dix Jr., RB Donovan Edwards, DL Alex Huntley, S Louis Moore, DL Cam Rice, ILB Jaheim Thomas, C Jim Bonifas, CB Ahmari Harvey, CB Nick McCloud, S Tanner Wall, and RB Anthony Hankerson.
Those players all cleared waivers and are free to sign with any team at any time.
Miami also released a group of veterans: DT Matthew Butler, LB Cameron Goode, T Charlie Heck, S Lonnie Johnson Jr., WR Terrace Marshall Jr., EDGE David Ojabo, and CB Marco Wilson. Because they were released rather than waived, they were not subject to waivers and would have their contract fully guaranteed if they are on a 53-man roster in Week 1, a situation that often leads to a longer wait.
Three players were re-signed to the practice squad and then released from it: TE Jeremiah Franklin, QB Mark Gronowski, and LB Cam Riley.
Another group was waived or released and then brought back onto the practice squad: T Gottlieb Ayedze, CB Ethan Bonner, S Major Burns, EDGE Clelin Ferrell, RB Jarquez Hunter, EDGE Max Llewellyn, EDGE Rodney McGraw, WR Jalen Reagor, and RB Carlos Washington Jr.
Several former Dolphins veterans have since turned up on practice squads elsewhere: WR Trent Sherfield with Buffalo, RB Salvon Ahmed with Chicago, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine with Indianapolis, EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah and CB Kader Kohou with Kansas City, WR Braxton Berrios with the N.Y. Giants, K Jason Sanders with the N.Y. Jets, S Ifeatu Melifonwu with Tampa Bay, and LB KJ Britt with New England.
Cornerback Noah Igbinoghene was signed to the Cleveland Browns’ 53-man roster after being released by the Seattle Seahawks, and safety Ashtyn Davis re-signed with the 49ers on August 31, one day after he was released.
In Other News...
Dolphins Week 1 Plan Could Feature An Unexpected Rookie Factor
The Dolphins are leaning into a Week 1 plan built around the run game, with De'Von Achane and quarterback Malik Willis expected to carry much of the load behind a thin offensive line and plenty of multiple-tight-end looks. In that kind of setup, every extra blocker matters, which is why undrafted rookie DJ Herman has quickly become a name worth watching after making the 53-man roster as a converted linebacker turned fullback.
Hermans path makes him an unusual piece in the offense, but the coaching staff has already shown trust in his toughness and movement, traits that fit the role Miami seems ready to use. If the Dolphins want to protect their front and keep the ground game on schedule early in the season, Herman could wind up being more than just a developmental story. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Have 4 Injury Risks That Could Break This Season
The Dolphins enter 2026 with very little margin for error, and that starts with how much theyre leaning on a handful of players who sit right at the center of everything they want to do. A thin roster and a difficult schedule already make the season feel precarious, and the list of key names says plenty about where the pressure is coming from. DeVon Achane gives the backfield its spark, Malik Willis is central to the offenses direction, Austin Jackson anchors the right side, and Chris Johnson is one of the pieces the defense cannot afford to lose under Jeff Hafley.
For Miami, the concern is not just whether those players can produce, but whether the team can keep them available long enough to matter. Each one carries a different kind of importance, from protecting the quarterback to stabilizing the secondary, and that kind of dependence can turn a promising plan into a fragile one very quickly. With so much riding on a small group of difference-makers, the Dolphins are built more like a team trying to survive the season than one with much room to absorb a hit. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Quietly Added A Few Names Fans May Need To Know
The Dolphins 2026 season-opening roster against the Raiders has a few late additions that might not have grabbed much attention at the time, but they could become relevant quickly once the games start. Miami brought in nine players during the final stretch of the preseason and after roster cuts, filling out the roster with under-the-radar options whose value may come from flexibility more than name recognition. For a team that usually has to juggle depth across the season, these are the kinds of moves that can look minor in September and suddenly matter in a hurry.
Among the newcomers are edge defender Herring, quarterback McCord and tight end Joly, along with several others who were added to help wherever the need pops up. Their roles will likely depend on injuries, matchup demands and how Miami wants to piece together certain spots as the year unfolds. The broader picture is clear enough even if the final answer is not: the Dolphins quietly stocked the back end of the roster with players who may not be household names yet, but could end up being part of the conversation sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]