Dolphins live updates: Miami makes trade, drops players to get down to 53-player limit

The Dolphins began cutting their roster by releasing these players on Monday.

Here’s our live blog as we track the Dolphins’ Tuesday cuts, with Miami entering the day with 75 players and needing to get to 53 by a 4 p.m. deadline. We’ll keep adding updates to the top:

4 p.m.: The Dolphins cleared up a few things with their cuts announcement: They waived Justin Bethel, Tyler Kroft (though he was at practice today), Parry Nickerson (also at practice today) and Tanner Conner.

Keion Crossen and Eric Saubert are going on injured reserve, ending their seasons.

Miami put Jalen Ramsey, Rob Jones and Elijah Campbell on the initial 53-man rosters, keeping alive the chance for tem to play this season. That will allow the Dolphins to sign three players on Wednesday after making those IR moves. It was notable that of the players cut, only Kroft and Nickerson were at practice today.

Miami kept two tight ends, Durham Smythe and rookie Julian Hill.

Miami kept three undrafted rookies: Brandon Pili, Julian Hill and Chris Brooks.

The Dolphins - who told Verone McKinley they might waive him and re-sign him Wednesday after placing a different player on IR - ultimately decided not to do that and kept him on the 53.

Here was the full Dolphins announcement:

“The Miami Dolphins announced they have released cornerback Justin Bethel, wide receiver Robbie Chosen, running back Myles Gaskin, defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand, tight end Tyler Kroft, cornerback Parry Nickerson, tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, defensive back Jamal Perry and linebacker Malik Reed. The team waived cornerback Ethan Bonner, tight end Tanner Conner, linebacker Cameron Goode, tackle Ryan Hayes, tight end Elijah Higgins, wide receiver Braylon Sanders, cornerback Bryce Thompson, offensive lineman Alama Uluave and cornerback Trill Williams. Miami also waived/injury settlement wide receiver Daewood Davis, placed cornerback Nik Needham on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and placed defensive back Keion Crossen and tight end Eric Saubert on injured reserve.”

2:55 p.m.: The Dolphins traded cornerback Noah Igbinoghene to Dallas for third-year cornerback Kelvin Joseph.

Joseph, selected in the second round (44th overall) by Dallas in 2021, has appeared in 26 games with three starts during two nondescript years for Dallas. He played 164 and 166 snaps on defense for the Cowboys the past two seasons and 142 and 217 on special teams.

Igbinogheni’s $3.6 million Dolphins cap hit for 2023 shrinks to a $1.4 M dead money Dolphins cap hit for 2023.

Igbinoghene has one year left on his contract; Joseph has two years left on his rookie contract.

So the Dolphins cornerback room, pending any more moves: Jalen Ramsey (hopes to be back in November), Xavien Howard, Kader Kohou, Cam Smith, Eli Apple, Kelvin Joseph, Keion Crossen, Parry Nickerson. Nik Needham is likely starting season on PUP and Justin Bethel is injured, with his status to be determined.

2:25: Among the bubble Dolphins who were at Tuesday’s practice, suggesting they’ve avoided being cut today: defensive tackle Brandon Pili, receiver River Cracraft, tight end Tyler Kroft, cornerbacks Parry Nickerson and Keion Crossen and offensive tackle Kion Smith.

Among those missing from Tuesday’s practice: offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi (who might be out in the battle with Kion Smith for the fourth tackle job) and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (reasons unclear) and tight end Tanner Conner (status unclear).

Julian Hill wasn’t at practice but hasn’t been told he’s been cut, either.

Players on the side because of injuries: Terron Armstead, Robert Jones, Justin Bethel, Elijah Campbell, Devon Achane (red non-contact jersey), Jaylen Waddle, Salvon Ahmed and Jeff Wilson.

2:20 p.m.: The Dolphins reached an injury settlement with Daewood Davis, the undrafted rookie receiver who was injured and removed on a stretcher during Saturday’s game. Davis, thankfully, is out of the hospital and OK.

2:15 p.m.: The Dolphins released wide receiver Robbie Chosen, as Jordan Schultz reported. That leaves Miami with six wide receivers: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Braxton Berrios, Cedrick Wilson, Erik Ezukanma and River Cracraft.

1:45 p.m. update: Per a source, the Dolphins have spoken to safety Verone McKinley about possibly releasing him but then signing him back to the 53 a day later after placing others on IR.

Remember, injured players who hope to play this year for the Dolphins must be on the initial 53, then moved to IR. McKinley has had a good camp.

If players go on IR before the 53-man roster is set, they’re out for the year. Decisions are pending on several Dolphins in that boat, including Robert Jones and Justin Bethel.

1:30 p.m. update: The Dolphins now have about $17 million in available cap space after trading Dan Feeney and reworking Cedrick Wilson’s contract (see below on Wilson). They can use that money, carry it over to 2024 space (when they’re now about $25 million over the 2024 cap), or use some and carry over some in the months ahead (which is the likely scenario).

1:15 p.m.: The Dolphins are releasing safety Trill Williams, who was working his way back from last year’s ACL injury, per a source.

1:10 p.m.: The Dolphins are releasing receiver Braylon Sanders but plan to sign him to the practice squad if he clears waivers, according to a source. Sanders missed the past three weeks of practice with a bruised knee.

1:10 p.m.: The Dolphins, unable to trade Cedrick Wilson Jr., reworked his contract, a source confirmed. Wilson was due $7 million, with $5 million guaranteed. Instead, he will make $5 million total, with incentives making the deal worth as much as $7.25 million. The contract was cut from a three-year deal to a two-year deal, leaving Miami with no dead money on his deal for 2023.

12:50 p.m.: The Dolphins cut cornerback Bryce Thompson, according to a source. Thompson had some good moments in May and June practices, but the numbers game at cornerback caught up with him.

12:20 p.m.: The Dolphins are expected to not have tight end Eric Saubert play for them this season, according to a source. He has been sidelined with an injury recently.

12:15 p.m.: The Dolphins cut sixth-round rookie Elijah Higgins, who was transitioning from Stanford receiver to NFL tight end. The Dolphins would like to move him to the practice squad.

11:50 a.m.: The Dolphins released veteran defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand, who was injured the past week. Rookie Brandon Pili’s chances of making the 53 continue to increase.

11:40 a.m.: The Dolphins cut rookie safety Ethan Bonner but have interest in putting him on the practice squad. That leaves Verone McKinley and Trill Williams competing for the No. 4 safety job.

11:10 a.m.: The Dolphins cut edge player Cameron Goode but have interest in signing him to the practice squad, where he spent last season after being drafted by Miami in the seventh round.

With Garrett Nelson, Mitchell Agude and Goode released - and Malik Reed reportedly released - that leaves Emmanuel Ogbah and Andrew Van Ginkel as the backup edge players.

10:50 a.m. The Dolphins cut rookie center Alama Uluave, per source; The Dolphins could put him on p-squad if clears waivers..

Without Chicago-bound Dan Feeney and Uluave both gone, there’s no clear back up center behind Connor Williams. Guard Liam Eichenberg played back up center in May and June practices. Guard Rob Jones (who’s out another few weeks with a knee injury) has taken snaps there during practice in the past.

10:40 a.m.: The Dolphins cut running back Myles Gaskin, leaving Miami with five running backs: Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., De’Von Achane (who is nursing a shoulder injury), Salvon Ahmed, rookie Chris Brooks (status TBD), plus fullback Alec Ingold. Talks with the Colts about a Jonathan Taylor trade continue.

Gaskin had a strong preseason but got caught in a numbers game. None of his $1.1 million salary was guaranteed; it would be fully guaranteed if he’s on the roster Week 1.

10:15 a.m.: The Dolphins released seventh-round rookie offensive tackle Ryan Hayes, according to a source. The former Michigan offensive tackle had some good moments in training camp and could be developed on the practice squad if he goes unclaimed.

9:30 a.m.: The Dolphins and Colts remain in discussions on Jonathan Taylor, but it’s unclear if the sides will reach an agreement on trade compensation. Negotiations are fluid, but Miami remains interested. At least one other team has made an offer, per sources.

The Colts have given Taylor a 4 p.m. Tuesday deadline to find a trade partner, but that is a loose deadline. Talks conceivably could continue until the Halloween trade deadline.

8:50 a.m.: The Dolphins released veteran defensive back Jamal Perry, who was with Miami for the third time in his career during this training camp. He spent less than three weeks with the team this time around.

12:05 a.m.: The Dolphins sliced their roster to 74 late Monday night by trading backup center/guard Dan Feeney to the Chicago Bears for a sixth-round pick in 2024, according to a source.

Feeney signed a one-year, fully guaranteed $3.1 million deal with the Dolphins early in free agency but never challenged for a starting spot. The Dolphins remain responsible for his $2.1 million signing bonus, but the Bears will pay his $1.1 million base salary.

The trade saves the Dolphins only about $1 million or a bit more in both salary and salary cap space. Feeney’s 2024 cap number would have been $3.2 million if he was on the team; now his Dolphins dead money 2024 cap hit will be $2.05 million.

Feeney’s exit could increase the chances of the Dolphins keeping guard Lester Cotton or center Alama Uluave, the San Diego State rookie. Uluave could possibly end up backing center Connor Williams, though guard Liam Eichenberg logged snaps at center during May and June practices and would be another backup center option.