The Dolphins waived undrafted defensive lineman Ray Lima earlier today, but the move wasn’t simply an attempt to trim the roster. Rather, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald tweets, the rookie has decided to retire.
Lima didn’t show up to Dolphins camp today, and while head coach Brian Flores tried to change the rookie’s mind, the lineman decided to move on from the sport. Jackson notes that the decision had “nothing to do with COVID-19.” Rather, Lima simply “wants to do something else with his life.”
The six-foot-three, 316-pound lineman appeared in 35 games for Iowa State between the 2017 and 2019 seasons, compiling 87 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and one pass defended. He appeared in 11 games during his senior campaign, finishing with 28 tackles and 0.5 sacks.
As an undrafted free agent, Lima already faced an uphill battle to make the Dolphins roster. He was one of four undrafted lineman to sign with the Dolphins, and he was competing with the likes of Zach Sieler for reps behind Davon Godchaux and Christian Wilkins.
As Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com notes, the move leaves the Dolphins with 86 players on the roster, so more moves are certainly coming.