Dolphins Tried To Claim Tanner Vallejo
- The Dolphins submitted an unsuccessful waiver claim for a Bills cut, linebacker Tanner Vallejo, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes. Vallejo ended up in Cleveland because of the Browns’ top waiver priority position, one they’ve used frequently over the past week. Miami also wanted to keep two of their own cuts — running back Buddy Howell and tackle Eric Smith — but saw the former land with the Texans via waiver claim and the latter end up choosing to sign with the Patriots’ practice squad instead of the Dolphins’.
- Dolphins skepticism is rampant around the NFL-following world going into this season, with Miami sitting as one of Las Vegas’ longest-odds Super Bowl propositions, but one reason the team believes it will improve from a disappointing 2017 is its offensive line. The Dolphins believe Laremy Tunsil is set for a “monster” season and that Daniel Kilgore has filled in nicely for Mike Pouncey — as both a leader and a player, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald notes. Kilgore and Josh Sitton are now in place on a Miami front that’s endured questions about its interior line — be it Pouncey’s health or guards’ underwhelming performance — for years.
Dolphins Re-Sign TE Gavin Escobar
After he was released by the team at final cuts, the Dolphins are bringing back tight end Gavin Escobar according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (Twitter link).
To make room on the roster, the team is placing MarQueis Gray on injured reserve. Beasley posted a follow-up tweet noting that it’s “big news” as Gray “was on track to be a Week 1 starter.” It’s a big blow for Miami just days before the season gets underway.
Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald followed up with a tweet of his own, noting that it’s an Achilles injury for Gray. Although he’ll be eligible to return after eight weeks, if it’s an Achilles tear he’ll be done for the whole season. Escobar, a second round pick of the Cowboys back in 2013 was brought in on a one-year deal this offseason but let go as the Dolphins trimmed their roster to 53.
Escobar never lived up to his draft status, catching just 30 passes for 333 yards and eight touchdowns across his four seasons in Dallas. The injury to Gray likely means more snaps and potentially an every down role for rookie second round pick Mike Gesicki.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/5/18
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Trevor Bates, C Leo Koloamatangi
- Cut: S Rolan Milligan, LB Darnell Sankey, T Dan Skipper
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: S Maurice Smith
- Cut: RB Jeremy Langford
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Jalen Myrick
- Placed on injured list: DB Jack Tocho
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Trey Edmunds
- Cut: RB Jarvion Franklin
Seattle Seahawks
- Cut: LB Antwione Williams
Washington Redskins
- Signed: WR Jehu Chesson, TE J.P. Holtz
- Cut: QB Nic Shimonek
Dolphins Sign RB Brandon Bolden
The Dolphins are signing longtime New England Patriots running back Brandon Bolden, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link).
To make room on the roster for Bolden, the team cut center Travis Swanson, who was just signed yesterday. Bolden will get to continue his career in the AFC East, as he spent his first six seasons in New England before being released at final cuts on Saturday.
The Ole Miss product improbably made the Patriots as an undrafted free agent back in 2012, and stuck up until now, a remarkable feat for an undrafted player. He became a core special teams player during his time in New England, as well as handling a significant amount of carries his first few seasons.
In total, he rushed 216 times for 912 yards, good for 4.2 yards per carry, with six touchdowns with the Patriots. He also caught 47 passes for 373 yards and two more touchdowns. He’ll join a Dolphins running backs room that includes Kenyan Drake, Frank Gore, and rookie Kalen Ballage.
Minor AFC Transactions: 9/3/18
Here are Monday’s minor moves from the AFC:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: TE Ryan Hewitt
Kansas City Chiefs
- Claimed off waivers (from Browns): C Austin Reiter
- Released: OL Bryan Witzmann
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: RB Justin Jackson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: T Sam Young
- Waived: DB Maurice Smith
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: RB Elijah McGuire
Oakland Raiders
- Claimed off waivers (from Cowboys): DT Brian Price
- Waived: WR Johnny Holton, DT Treyvon Hester
Dolphins Sign C Travis Swanson
The Dolphins filled their open roster spot today, signing center Travis Swanson according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link).
Swanson finds a new home in the AFC East, as he was cut by the Jets on Saturday as they trimmed their roster down to 53. Salguero noted in a follow-up tweet that the team had been interested in him earlier this spring before the Jets signed him. He also points out that Swanson has a history with the Dolphins’ offensive line coach, Jeremiah Washburn, from their time in Detroit together.
Swanson came into the league as a third round pick of the Lions back in 2014. He was an effective player when healthy, but struggled with concussion issues his last two seasons with Detroit. Overall, he started 42 games for the Lions and is a nice depth signing for the Dolphins with extensive starting experience. He’ll slide in as the backup to Dolphins center Daniel Kilgore, but could start in a pinch.
Swanson was a somewhat surprising cut by the Jets, and didn’t take long to resurface. The former Arkansas Razorback received very low grades from Pro Football Focus in 2017, but was better before that. If he can show he’s put his concussion issues behind him and stay healthy, he should be able to stick in Miami.
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC East teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s AFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Buffalo Bills
Claimed:
Cut:
Practice squad:
- RB Keith Ford
- DE Mike Love
- S Dean Marlowe
- WR Cam Phillips
- LB Corey Thompson
- OL Gerhard de Beer
- CB Levi Wallace
- OL De’Ondre Wesley
Miami Dolphins
Claimed:
- QB Luke Falk
- WR Tanner McEvoy
Placed on injured reserve:
- C Jake Brendel
- LB Mike Hull
Cut:
Practice squad:
- G Isaac Asiata
- WR Leonte Carroo
- WR Isaiah Ford
- CB Jalen Davis
- C Connor Hilland
- RB Jeremy Langford
- DE Cameron Malveaux
- DL Jamiyus Pittman
- LB Quentin Poling
- DL Jonathan Woodard
New England Patriots
Claimed:
- WR Chad Hansen
- WR Amara Darboh
Placed on injured reserve:
Practice squad:
- OL Cole Croston
- QB Danny Etling
- OL James Ferentz
- DL Trent Harris
- WR Riley McCarron
- DT Vincent Valentine
- RB Ralph Webb
- CB Jomal Wiltz
New York Jets
Practice squad:
- DB Brandon Bryant
- DB Jeremy Clark
- LB Frankie Luvu
- LB Anthony Wint
Dolphins To Keep Three QBs All Year, Could Bring Back Leonte Carroo
The Dolphins currently have three quarterbacks on the roster, and it looks like it will stay that way. Per Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said he anticipates keeping three signal-callers all year, although he would not say whether David Fales or Brock Osweiler would serve as Ryan Tannehill‘s primary backup. Beasley suggests the No. 2 QB could change depending on the week (Twitter links).
- The Dolphins cut former third-round pick Leonte Carroo yesterday, but Beasley tweets that Carroo could find himself on the team’s practice squad if he clears waivers. Although Carroo has disappointed in the pros thus far, other teams with a need at wide receiver may be willing to give him a shot.
Dolphins Cut Roster To 53
The Miami Dolphins are the latest team to cut their roster all the way down to the required 53 players. Here are their latest moves:
Waived:
- CB Johnathon Alston
- G Isaac Asiata
- CB Taveze Calhoun
- WR Leonte Carroo
- LB Cayson Collins
- CB Jalen Davis
- TE Thomas Duarte
- S Trae Elston
- WR Isaiah Ford
- LB Frank Ginda
- LS Lucas Gravelle
- C Connor Hilland
- RB Buddy Howell
- K Greg Joseph
- OT Roubbens Joseph
- RB Jeremy Langford
- WR Malcolm Lewis
- CB Tony Lippett
- DE Cameron Malveaux
- DE Claudy Mathieu
- C Mike Matthews
- WR Drew Morgan
- DT Anthony Moten
- WR Francis Owusu
- DT Jamiyus Pittman
- RB Brandon Radcliff
- OT Eric Smith
- OT David Steinmetz
- DE Jonathan Woodard
Waived/Injured
- QB Bryce Petty
- DE Quincy Redmon
- WR Rashawn Scott
Terminated vested veteran
- TE Gavin Escobar
- LB Terence Garvin
- DL Kendall Langford
Overall, not too many surprises. It looks like the Dolphins will be keeping three quarterbacks, with both Brock Osweiler and David Fales making the team.
Dolphins Waived CB Tony Lippett
The Dolphins are releasing a former starter. ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe reports (via Twitter) that the organization is cutting cornerback Tony Lippett.
Following a so-so rookie year, the 2015 fifth-round pick broke onto the season in 2016. Lippett established himself as a capable cornerback during that campaign, starting 13 of his 16 games with Miami. The Michigan State product finished the year with 67 tackles, 10 passes defended and four interceptions.
However, Lippett suffered a torn Achilles last year, forcing him to sit out the entire season. Wolfe notes that the cornerback still hadn’t full recovered from the injury, perhaps explaining his release.
With the 26-year-old out of the picture, Cordrea Tankersley, Cornell Armstrong, and Taveze Calhoun seemingly have a better chance of making the roster.