Opinion: Julius Thomas To Stay With Dolphins?
- Julius Thomas is unlikely to be back with the Dolphins at his scheduled salary cap hit of $6.6MM, but it seems possible that he could be back with the team at a reduced salary, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald writes. Thomas hasn’t put up the monster numbers that were once expected of him, but the tight end has been quietly productive. “I see it different than it seems everyone else does,” coach Adam Gase said. “He’s done everything I’ve asked him to do. I wish there’s been situations we’ve called plays for him and haven’t been able to get the ball to him either by coverage or the ball didn’t go there for whatever reason. When we’ve asked him to do things in the running game he’s given me max effort. He’s been there every day for us in practice and at games. Yeah, would I love him to have 12 touchdowns? Sure. We haven’t been able to have that many snaps until the last five games. That’s where he’s made his money. I think he’s had the third-most touchdown catches in the NFL since 2013 or something like that. He’s done exactly what we’ve asked. [Sunday] was a good example. That’s a big play. We wanted to get up. That’s the first guy I went to.”
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/4/17
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Taurean Nixon
Miami Dolphins
- Released: WR Kolby Listenbee
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OT Justin Murray
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/2/2017
Here are today’s minor moves:
Los Angeles Rams
- Added from practice squad: LB Carlos Thompson
- Waived: LB Ejuan Price
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Josh Forrest
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: LB Cameron Lynch
Miami Dolphins
- Added from practice squad: DE Cameron Malveaux
- Placed on reserve/non-football illness list: FS Maurice Smith
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: OL Kyle Kalis
Practice Squad Updates: 12/1/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OLB Thurston Armbrister
- Cut: C Leo Koloamatangi
Miami Dolphins
- Signed:WR Rashawn Scott
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Tre McBride
- Placed on PS IR: DL Claude Pelon
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: C Jon Toth
- Placed on PS IR: S Harold Jones-Quartey
NFL Workout Updates: 11/30/17
Here are the latest workout and visit updates, courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer unless otherwise noted.
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Green Bay Packers
- TE Devon Cajuste (visit), LB Ahmad Thomas (visit)
Kansas City Chiefs
- TE Anthony Firkser, Henry Krieger-Coble (link)
Miami Dolphins
- RB Russell Hansbrough, RB Kalif Phillips, RB Brandon Radcliff (link)
New Orleans Saints
- TE Alex Ellis, TE Darion Griswold, TE Henry Krieger-Coble, TE Robert Tonyan (link)
Oakland Raiders
- WR Seantavius Jones, WR Francis Owusu, WR Tevaun Smith (link)
San Francisco 49ers
- T Reid Fragel, CB Senquez Golson, K Garrett Hartley, CB Michael Hunter (visit), CB Keith Lewis, LB Boseko Lokombo, LB John Lotulelei, CB J.R. Nelson, TE Luke Papilion, RB Jhurell Pressley, RB Khiry Robinson, CB Channing Stribling RB Jahad Thomas, WR Javon Williams, TE Travis Wilson, CB Lou Young (Twitter links via Balzer)
Eric Smith To Return From IR
- The Dolphins have designated offensive lineman Eric Smith to return from injured reserve, reports Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). Smith, a rookie undrafted free agent out of Virginia, earned a spot on Miami’s 53-man roster before going down in October. If activated, he’ll earn something of a multi-game tryout over the rest of the regular season. The Dolphins have already placed three other offensive lineman on IR this year, so Smith could see playing time down the stretch.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/29/17
Today’s minor moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: WR Matt Hazel
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: WR Rashawn Scott
- Promoted to active roster: RB De’Veon Smith
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: T Bryce Harris
- Waived: CB Dexter McDougle
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Darius Victor
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Darnell Sankey
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Aaron Green
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Michael Hunter
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DE Jeremiah Valoaga
- Waived: LB Thurston Armbrister
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Ahmad Thomas
Houston Texans
- Signed: QB Taylor Heinicke, TE Ryan Malleck, WR DeAndrew White
Dolphins Claim TE A.J. Derby
The Dolphins have claimed tight end A.J. Derby off of waivers, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Derby was cut by the Broncos on Tuesday, putting him on the waiver wire for the league’s other 31 teams. 
Derby, 26, was traded from the Patriots to the Broncos last season in exchange for a fifth-round pick. He was in the midst of a quietly productive year and was leading Denver tight ends in receptions before he was released in November. In nine games (one start), Derby had 19 catches for 224 yards and two scores.
The Dolphins are effectively out of the playoff chase with a 4-7 record, but this will give them a chance to closely evaluate Derby for the 2018 roster. The former fifth-round pick is under contract through 2018 with a dirt cheap $705K cap number for next year.
Derby is the second ex-Broncos tight end to wind up in Miami, joining starter Julius Thomas.
Dolphins QB Jay Cutler Will Start Sunday
Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol and will start Sunday against the Broncos, head coach Adam Gase told reporters, including Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link).
Miami will turn back to Cutler following a start by backup Matt Moore in Week 12, a loss to the division rival Patriots in which Moore completed 23 of 34 attempts for 215 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. No matter who is under center going forward, the Dolphins aren’t likely to be contending for playoff spot, as the 4-7 club has only a 1% chance of securing a postseason berth, per FiveThirtyEight.
Cutler, who also missed Week 8 with a ribs injury, has struggled in his first season with the Dolphins. He ranks near the bottom of the league in most quarterback metrics, grades as the No. 33 quarterback among 37 qualifiers per Pro Football Focus, and isn’t throwing the ball down the field, as his 7.8-yard average depth of target ranks 32nd in the NFL.