The Miami Dolphins and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan wasted no time making key decisions toward their initial 53-man roster Sunday morning, well ahead of the NFL’s 6 p.m. deadline.
The biggest name cut, according to multiple reports, is linebacker Tyrel Dodson.
Dodson, who has started 19 games over the past two seasons with the Dolphins, including all 16 he played in last year, was in a training camp competition with rookie Jacob Rodriguez for the middle linebacker job.
Cutting Dodson shows Rodriguez, the second-round pick out of Texas Tech, won the job, as had become apparent with the rookie’s play in camp. Dodson’s $2.355 million base salary for 2026 was not guaranteed, so Sullivan saved money toward the salary cap with the move.
Other veterans reportedly released Sunday morning were cornerback Marco Wilson and safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. As vested veterans, or players who have accrued more than four seasons in the league, Dodson, Wilson and Johnson are free to sign with another team of their choosing and are not subject to waivers.
Among other cuts, the Dolphins reportedly let go of quarterbacks of Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski.
Miller was third string throughout training camp and received an elevated look to run the second team and even start two preseason games with backup Quinn Ewers was out injured. Miller did not seize that opportunity, waived a day after Ewers was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In need of a No. 2 quarterback behind starter Malik Willis, the Dolphins traded the pick acquired from the Jaguars on Saturday to pick up Kyle McCord from the Green Bay Packers.
There could be several other quarterbacks to come available for Miami. On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released quarterback Jake Browning, who spent several seasons as Joe Burrow’s backup with the Cincinnati Bengals. Bailey Zappe was cut by the New York Jets. The Cleveland Browns are expected to have someone shake free between Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green. Other possibilities around the league include Will Levis or Hendon Hooker in Tennessee, J.J. McCarthy with the Minnesota Vikings and maybe Cooper Rush with the Atlanta Falcons.
Miami got a head start making cuts Saturday ahead of the Sunday deadline, cutting 12 players a day early: cornerback Alex Austin, wide receiver Theo Wease Jr., running backs Coleman Bennett and Donovan Edwards, linebackers Stephen Dix Jr. and Jaheim Thomas, safety Louis Moore, edge rusher Seth Coleman-Lyles, tackle Kevin Cline, defensive linemen Alex Huntley and Cam Rice and tight end Ethan Conner.
This story will be updated.