The deadline for teams to trim their rosters down to 53 is fast approaching. The Miami Dolphins made a pair of moves on Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, getting them closer to that roster limit. The first was the team releasing former Kansas City Chiefs tight end Jody Fortson. Fortson signed a one-year deal with the team worth just over $1 million in this year’s free agency period.
Fortson had been hampered by injuries this camp, and faced an uphill battle to make the team in a somewhat crowded tight end room. Fortson’s release could be a good sign for a player who had a standout performance in the Dolphins’ final preseason game, rookie tight end Hayden Rucci. Rucci finished Friday night’s game against the Buccaneers with five receptions for 44 yards, and scored a touchdown with fullback Alec Ingold providing live commentary during the celebration.
Rucci’s impressive play continued a training camp where he’s been making an impression on both the players around him and the coaching staff. He faces an uphill battle himself to make the team, with Jonnu Smith and Durham Smythe sitting as locks to make the roster, and potentially only one – possibly two – spots left between Rucci, Tanner Conner, and Julian Hill.
The other move was placing wide receiver Anthony Schwartz on injured reserve with a torn ligament in his left knee, ending his season before it began. The move opens up a spot in the Dolphins’ wide receiver room, and should effectively guarantee that rookie Malik Washington makes the squad.
Washington made a strong case for making the squad outright, even without Schwartz’s injury, during the preseason game against the Bucs. Washington was a major factor in the Dolphins’ return game, making electric plays in both the punt and kick return areas. Now, with a roster spot opened up, Washington should have a spot on the team and will likely see significant action on special teams while trying to carve a role for himself on the offense.
In addition to these two moves, the Dolphins also announced on Sunday that they had released backup quarterback Mike White, all but ensuring that Skylar Thompson makes the team as the primary backup for starter Tua Tagovailoa.