Dolphins Waive P Ryan Stonehouse, Sign CB Cameron Dantzler
Ryan Stonehouse has proven to possess one of the strongest legs in NFL history, going 3-for-3 in seasons with 50-plus-yard punting averages. The player who broke Sammy Baugh‘s longstanding single-season punting record has now been jettisoned twice this year, however.
The Dolphins waived Stonehouse on Tuesday, per a team announcement. Initially reporting the Dolphins’ decision to cut the strong-legged specialist, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson notes the team will go with incumbent Jake Bailey for a third season. This release also came despite the Dolphins hiring ex-Titans special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman this offseason.
[RELATED: Reviewing Dolphins’ 2025 Offseason]
This decision comes months after the Titans declined to tender Stonehouse as an RFA. The original-round tender price spiked to $3.26MM this year, leading to more nontender calls than usual, and a punter being nontendered at this rate was not exactly shocking. Still, Stonehouse had made it back from ACL and MCL tears sustained during the 2023 season. He posted his third 50-plus-yard punting average as well.
As a rookie, Stonehouse brought down Baugh’s hallowed single-season punting mark (51.4 yards per boot) — one that had stood 1940 — by averaging 53.1 yards a kick. Baugh also set that record on 35 punts; Stonehouse punted 90 times as a rookie. He then matched that punting average a year later, though the ACL and MCL tears sustained on a blocked punt ended his 2023 season after 12 games. In 17 contests last season, Stonehouse averaged 50.6 yards per punt.
While the three-season sample size would seemingly hold some weight, the Dolphins saw Bailey average 56 yards (on three preseason punts) to Stonehouse’s 43.3 during the team’s first two preseason games. Bailey averaged 45.7 and 47.1 yards per punt in 2023 and ’24, respectively. The Stonehouse cut will tag the Dolphins with just $75K in dead money. Bailey is tied to a two-year, $4.2MM deal; it would have cost $550K to drop him. Stonehouse should generate some interest before the season.
Announcing their Matt Judon signing, the Dolphins also added cornerback Cameron Dantzler and waived wide receiver Tarik Black. The Dolphins also placed offensive lineman Yodny Cajuste on IR, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
A former third-round pick who started 26 games with the Vikings from 2020-23, Danzler has become an NFL nomad. The Dolphins are the veteran corner’s sixth NFL team; he stopped through Washington, Buffalo, Houston and New Orleans. Dantzler did not play in the NFL last season but saw time in the UFL — with the San Antonio Brahmas and Memphis Showboats — during that league’s past two seasons. Miami is amid a full-scale cornerback makeover and already lost Artie Burns and Kader Kohou to season-ending injuries, leading to this flier on Dantzler.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/7/25
Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players through the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:
Arizona Cardinals
- DE Anthony Goodlow, OL Sincere Haynesworth, RB Zonovan Knight, NT P.J. Mustipher
Atlanta Falcons
- WR Makai Polk
Buffalo Bills
Chicago Bears
- TE Jordan Murray
Cincinnati Bengals
- CB Micah Abraham, RB Gary Brightwell, CB Nate Brooks, WR Cole Burgess, OT Andrew Coker, DE Raymond Johnson III, S PJ Jules, S Jaylen Key, G Tashawn Manning, WR Kendric Pryor, LB Craig Young
Indianapolis Colts
Las Vegas Raiders
- DL Tyler Manoa
Miami Dolphins
- WR Tarik Black, LB William Bradley-King, S Jordan Colbert, DT Neil Farrell, OT Ryan Hayes, OL Chasen Hines, LB Dequan Jackson, CB Isaiah Johnson, CB Jason Maitre, OT Bayron Matos, LB Derrick McLendon, TE Hayden Rucci
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Isaac Alarcon, WR Russell Gage, WR Isaiah Hodgins, OT Jalen McKenzie
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/23/24
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: QB Anthony Brown
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT T.J. Smith, LB Chandler Wooten
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Ethan Fernea
- Released: K Spencer Shrader
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DB Shaun Wade
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: QB C.J. Beathard, WR Tarik Black
- Released: TE Hayden Rucci
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Keshawn Banks
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Parris Campbell, DT Siaki Ika
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Dieter Eiselen, WR Malik Turner
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Damarion Williams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: P Jack Browning, WR Dennis Houston
While the Dolphins should soon have Tua Tagovailoa back on the field, the team has still added another QB to the mix. The team added veteran C.J. Beathard to the taxi squad today. The quarterback has bounced around the NFL since 2017, including a few stops in San Francisco when current Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel served as the 49ers run game coordinator. The 30-year-old got a start for the Jaguars last season, completing 17 of his 24 pass attempts for 178 yards. The newest addition will join a QB room that also includes Tyler Huntley, Skylar Thompson, and Tim Boyle.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/14/24
Wednesday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Storey Jackson
- Waived: P Ryan Sanborn
Buffalo Bills
- Reverted to IR: WR Bryan Thompson
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: S Clayton Isbell
- Released (with injury settlement): OLB Kemoko Turay
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on reserve/retired list: DE Jeff Gunter
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: C Cohl Cabral
- Waived (with injury designation): DE Shaka Toney
Denver Broncos
- Waived (with injury settlement): OLB Jaylon Allen
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Javelin Guidry
- Reverted to IR: LB DaRon Gilbert
- Waived (with injury designation): S Morice Norris Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Nate McCrary
- Waived: LS Peter Bowden, S Tyler Coyle
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Derek Rivers, WR Greg Ward
- Waived: S Kendell Brooks, WR Ethan Fernea
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from active/PUP list: G Jackson Powers-Johnson
- Released (with injury settlement): WR Keelan Doss
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Tucker Fisk
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DT Carlos Watkins
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Robert Cooper
Minnesota Vikings
- Reverted to IR: LB Jabril Cox
New England Patriots
- Waived (with injury settlement): DE John Morgan
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE Mason Fairchild
- Waived: DT Kyler Baugh
New York Giants
- Signed: S Raheem Layne, S Jonathan Sutherland
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Zyon Gilbert, WR T.J. Luther
- Reverted to IR: WR Tarik Black
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DT Nick Williams
- Released: LB Zeke Turner
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Easton Gibbs
- Waived (with injury designation): DT Nathan Pickering
Washington Commanders
- Waived (with injury settlement): T Alex Akingbulu
- Waived: G Mason Brooks
Cabral joins the Cowboys after UFL stints in Birmingham and Michigan. He adds more depth to the team’s offensive line after the team lost Chuma Edoga in their first preseason game and saw Earl Bostick helped off the field today. Toney suffered a groin injury, leading to this injury waiver, but could return to the team should he clear waivers.
Powers-Johnson was on some concerning ground with how much time he had missed with a concussion, but the Raiders saw him return to practice today.
The 49ers are adding some significant depth on the defensive line in Williams, who has vast starting experience in the NFL. Cutting Turner could mean that the return of Dre Greenlaw may on a better timeline than expected.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/13/24
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Daylen Baldwin, RB Hassan Hall
- Released (with injury settlement): WR Jeff Smith
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on PUP: RB Robert Burns
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: RB John Kelly
- Waived (with injury settlement): LB Quincy Roche
Buffalo Bills
- Waived-injured: WR Bryan Thompson
Carolina Panthers
- Released from IR (with injury settlements): OT J.D. DiRenzo, TE Curtis Hodges
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: LB Alec Mock
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Essang Bassey
- Waived-injured: LB DaRon Gilbert
- Reverted to IR: WR Antoine Green
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Chris Russell
- Released from IR (with injury settlement): CB Don Callis
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Savion Jackson, LB Shaq Quarterman
- Waived: TE Ben Mason, CB Chris Wilcox
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Jordan Kunaszyk
- Waived-injured: LB Jabril Cox
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Kaleb Ford-Dement
- Waived: RB Zander Horvath
- Released from IR (with injury settlement): WR Jermaine Jackson
New York Jets
- Released from IR (with injury settlement): WR Hamze El-Zayat
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived-injured: WR Tarik Black
Seattle Seahawks
- Released from IR (with injury settlement): NT Matthew Gotel
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/31/24
Wednesday’s minor transactions to close out the month:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived (with injury settlement): DT Rayshad Nichols
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: S Terrell Burgess
- Waived: P Jack Browning
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Dillon Johnson
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Daewood Davis
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: G Lewis Kidd
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from active/PUP list: CB Jaylen Watson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: LB Darien Butler
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Willie Snead
- Waived: DT Mario Kendricks
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: LB Abraham Beauplan
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (from Eagles): CB Mario Goodrich
- Released (with non-football injury designation): CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Tarik Black
- Waived: DL Jonathan Marshall
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Rodney Mathews, RB Kairee Robinson
- Waived: LB Easton Gibbs
- Waived (with injury settlement): RB Ricky Person
Snead is the latest veteran wideout to join the Dolphins receiving corps. He hasn’t really contributed much to the NFL since his 2020 campaign with the Ravens, but he’ll get another chance this summer in South Beach.
Carolina brings in Johnson just a day after watching veteran Rashaad Penny hang up his cleats. In order to make room for Johnson, the Panthers let good of Davis, the team’s recent signee from the UFL.
Butler was waived after a failed physical two days ago. After going unclaimed, he’ll get to stay in Vegas by taking a place on the reserve/PUP list.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/17/24
The remaining playoff teams continue manipulating their practice squads:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Laquon Treadwell
- Released: WR Tarik Black
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DE Chris Smith
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Damiere Byrd
- Released: DT Rashard Lawrence
As they deal with myriad injuries in their receiving corps, the Texans have made the call to add a veteran pass catcher in Byrd. Tank Dell and Noah Brown are on injured reserve, and Robert Woods (hip) and John Metchie (foot) are both currently questionable with one practice remaining before Saturday’s matchup in Baltimore. It’s been three years since Byrd’s season as a starter in New England when he recorded career-highs in catches (47) and yards (604), but Houston brings him in with the hope that the depth he brings at the position is unnecessary.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/7/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Tarik Black
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Kerry Hyder
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Derek Rivers
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Simi Fehoko
- Released: CB Matt Hankins
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT John Penisini
- Activated from IR: WR Shaquan Davis
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Tyrion Davis-Price
- Released: WR Isaiah Winstead
As expected, Tyrion Davis-Price has landed back with the 49ers after getting cut by the big-league club earlier this week. The 2022 third-round pick has seen time in just one game for San Francisco this season, collecting 21 yards from scrimmage on six touches. He appeared in six games as a rookie, collecting 99 rushing yards. He’ll join Jeremy McNichols as the 49ers’ practice-squad options at RB.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/27/23
Friday’s taxi squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: WR Tarik Black
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB John Kelly Jr.
Houston Texans
- Released: CB Cobi Francis
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/26/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DL Jacob Slade, LB Davion Taylor
- Released: CB Quavian White
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Tarik Black, WR Dontay Demus
- Released: G Kyle Fuller, FB Ben Mason
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Matt Landers
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB Deon Jackson
- Released: RB Hassan Hall, DT Trysten Hill
Houston Texans
- Signed: OT Geron Christian
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Chase Cota
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: S A.J. Finley
New England Patriots
- Released: CB William Hooper
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Matt Landers
- Released: OL Jake Merritt
New York Jets
- Released: DB Craig James
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: CB Kalon Barnes
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Jeremy McNichols
- Released: TE Troy Fumagalli
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Otis Reese, WR Shi Smith
Geron Christian is back in Houston for his second stint with the team, as the lineman started eight of his 14 appearances for the Texans in 2021. The former Washington third-round pick spent the 2022 campaign with the Chiefs, where he mostly played on special teams in his 10 games.
A pair of notable running backs found jobs today. Deon Jackson joined the Browns practice squad after getting cut by the Colts last week. The RB started Week 1 for Indy, and he ultimately finished his stint with the team having collected 504 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in 27 games. Meanwhile, Jeremy McNichols is heading to San Francisco after having spent the past two seasons as one of Derrick Henry‘s backups. The former fifth-round pick got into 30 games between 2021 and 2022, collecting 655 yards from scrimmage.