Dolphins Reduce Roster To 53 Players
The Dolphins began trimming their roster yesterday, cutting 14 players. That made today’s daunting task a bit more bearable, but the team still had to cut a number of players to get to the 53-player roster limit:
Released:
- CB Justin Bethel
- DT Da’Shawn Hand
- TE Tyler Kroft
- CB Parry Nickerson
- OT Cedric Ogbuehi
- DB Jamal Perry
- LB Malik Reed
Waived:
- CB Ethan Bonner
- TE Tanner Conner
- LB Cameron Goode
- OT Ryan Hayes
- TE Elijah Higgins
- WR Braylon Sanders
- CB Bryce Thompson
- OL Alama Uluave
- CB Trill Williams
Waived/injured:
Placed on reserve/PUP:
- CB Nik Needham
Placed on IR:
- DB Keion Crossen
- TE Eric Saubert
Nik Needham, a 2019 UDFA out of UTEP, has spent his entire career with the Dolphins, appearing in 51 games (27 starts). He started five of his six appearances in 2022 before landing on IT in October with a torn Achilles tendon. His placement on PUP means he can’t make his season debut until at least Week 5.
Tight end Tyler Kroft signed with the Dolphins back in May, but the veteran was unable to beat our younger options for a roster spot. Kroft has seen time in 92 career games (52 starts), hauling in 105 catches for 1,081 yards and 13 touchdowns. He spent the 2022 campaign with the 49ers, collecting four receptions in 11 games (four starts).
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/22
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: RB Corey Clement
- Waived: CB Robert Jackson
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: LB Kamal Martin
- Waived (injury settlement): CB Devin Jones
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DE Carson Taylor
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: C Ben Brown
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: WR Derrick Dillon
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: DT Austin Faoliu
- Waived (injury designation): TE Ian Bunting, FB Ryan Nall, WR Ty Fryfogle, CB Kyron Brown
Denver Broncos
- Waived (injury designation): OL Ben Braden
Detroit Lions
- Released: TE Garrett Griffin
- Waived: TE Nolan Givan, C Ryan McCollum
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): TE Nate Becker
- Waived: LB Randy Ramsey, C Cole Schneider, CB Donte Vaughn
Houston Texans
- Waived: LS Harrison Elliott, RB B.J. Emmons
- Released: WR Chad Beebe
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from PUP list: WR Mike Strachan
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived (injury designation): K Elliott Fry
- Waived: RB Matt Colburn, QB Jake Luton, WR Ryan McDaniel, DE Wyatt Ray
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived (injury designation): DT Forrest Merrill, OC Isaac Weaver
- Waived: WR Maurice Ffrench, QB Brandon Peters, S Skyler Thomas
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: NT Niles Scott
- Placed on IR: CB Trill Williams (story)
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DE Niko Lalos, DT Jaleel Johnson
- Placed on IR: OT Ethan Greenidge
- Waived (injury settlement): DB Bryce Thompson
- Waived (injury designation): DB Jordan Brown, S Isaiah Pryor
- Waived: DE T.J. Carter, S Jack Koerner, DE Scott Patchan, K John Parker Romo, WR Easop Winston
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (from Bills): CB Olaijah Griffin
New York Jets
- Waived: WR Keshunn Abram
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB James Vaughters
- Waived (injury designation): LB Tuzar Skipper
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: DT Tomasi Laulile, WR KeeSean Johnson, RB Josh Hokit
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from active/PUP list: OT Liam Ryan
- Placed on IR: WR Cody Thompson
- Waived: CB Josh Valentine-Turner, DT Antonio Valentino, OL Eric Wilson, WR Deontez Alexander
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Patrick Laird
- Placed on IR: RB Kenjon Barner
- Waived: TE Ben Beise
Washington Commanders
- Activated from active/PUP list: OT Cornelius Lucas
Dolphins CB Trill Williams Suffers Torn ACL
In last night’s preseason game, the Dolphins suffered a significant injury in their secondary. Cornerback Trill Williams was carted off the field, and it has been confirmed today that he suffered a torn ACL (Twitter link via PFF’s Doug Kyed). 
The 22-year-old played in one game with the Dolphins last season as a rookie. Given his performance in training camp this year, the former UDFA was expected to be in contention for the fourth CB spot on Miami’s depth chart. Instead, he will now undergo surgery and miss the 2022 campaign in its entirety.
Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson tweets that the affected knee is one which has already suffered an ACL tear. As a result, the Syracuse alum’s recovery will be even more heavily scrutinized as he looks to land on an NFL roster again next season. The six-foot-one, 205-pounder had a productive college career with 92 tackles, four interceptions (one of which was returned for a touchdown) and another major on his only punt return.
In Williams’ absence, the Dolphins still have their starting trio at the CB position in Xavien Howard, Nik Needham and Byron Jones (whose regular season availability remains something of a question mark at this point). Depth, however, will now become even more of a sore spot on the roster, and the team is “evaluating outside options,” per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (Twitter link).
A number of notable veterans remain on the market at the position, including the likes of Trae Waynes, Joe Haden, Chris Harris and Xavier Rhodes. With nearly $20MM in cap space to work with, the Dolphins could easily afford an addition or two for experienced depth. Their top internal options for the No. 4 spot, meanwhile, are Keion Crossen and Noah Igbinoghene.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/17/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed CB Tae Hayes
- Released S Chris Miller, WR Darece Roberson
Atlanta Falcons
- Cut: OLB Eli Howard
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OLB Pita Taumoepenu, OT Cody Conway
- Cut: OT Ryan Pope, LB David Curry
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Alex Brown
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Daurice Fountain, DB Manny Patterson
- Waived: DB Jaylon McClain-Sapp
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed off waivers from Saints: CB Trill Williams
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed CB Parry Nickerson, OT Evin Ksiezarczyk
San Francisco 49ers
- Cut: WR Austin Proehl
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Kalija Lipscomb
- Released: LB Davin Bellamy (non-football injury), WR Rashard Davis
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: QB Eric Dungey, TE Cheyenne O’Grady
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Deuce Wallace
- Waived/injured: DB Eric Burrell, DB Trill Williams
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Nate Meadors
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/11/21
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: K Matt McCrane
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: LB Anthony Butler
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Caleb Scott
Los Angeles Rams
- Claimed (from Titans): LS Matthew Orzech
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Trill Williams
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Calvin Bundage
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Quenton Meeks
Saints Sign 11 UDFAs
The Saints have assembled their initial group of undrafted free agents. The four-time reigning NFC South champions agreed to post-draft deals with 11 rookies, per a club announcement. Here is New Orleans’ full list:
- Josiah Bronson, DL (Washington)
- Mike Brown, OL (West Virginia)
- Eric Burrell, S (Wisconsin)
- Nolan Cooney, P (Syracuse)
- Alex Hoffman, OL (Carroll)
- Stevie Scott, RB (Indiana)
- Shaq Smith, LB (Maryland)
- Dylan Soehner, TE (Iowa State)
- Bryce Thompson, CB (Tennessee)
- Trill Williams, DB (Syracuse)
- Lawrence Woods, DB (Truman State)
Bronson received interest from several teams but agreed to sign with the Saints. New Orleans will guarantee $140K of Bronson’s base salary, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. In addition to the base guarantee, Bronson will collect a $25K signing bonus. A Temple transfer who began his college career back in 2015, Bronson was a three-year Huskies contributor.
A tight end out of Iowa State, Soehner will receive a $120K base salary guarantee, veteran NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweets. Scott will vie for a backup job with the likes of Latavius Murray, Ty Montgomery and Dwayne Washington. The Indiana product, however, will head to the NFL after seeing his production drop in each of his three college seasons. Scott’s 1,137 freshman-year rushing total came with a 5.0 yards-per-carry figure. By 2020, Scott averaged just 3.6 per tote in Big Ten play.
One of two ex-Orange players to join the Saints in this class, Cooney may have a clear path to a roster spot. The Saints released longtime punter Thomas Morstead this offseason and do not have another punter on the roster. Should Cooney make the Saints’ 53-man roster, he would join Riley Dixon as Syracuse punting alums in the NFL.