Preseason Week 2 Miami Dolphins 53-man roster projection: The numbers crunch in South Florida is more complicated than elsewhere in the league
The Miami Dolphins will play their first preseason contest of the summer tonight in Washington. Who is currently well positioned to make the 53-man roster?
The Miami Dolphins are fresh off their second (and final) joint practice of the 2026 preseason. The New York Giants and the Dolphins will now take a moment to pause before tomorrow’s game at Hard Rock Stadium, which offers the next major hurdle in the hunt for a 53-man roster. There’s plenty of spots still up in the air.
But the position battles in Miami just feel a little different. This team is playing a long-term game with their rebuild — so which young players do you spurn in favor of a short-term option for 2026? It’s not an easy question to answer. Here’s an updated 53-man roster forecast ahead of this weekend’s preseason contest against the Giants.
Miami Dolphins’ 53-man roster projection ahead of the second preseason game against the Giants
Quarterback (2)
IN: Malik Willis, Quinn Ewers
OUT: Cam Miller, Mark Gronowski
The skinny: The inconvenient truth here is I can see the path for Miami to flip this room on its head behind Willis. The traits of both Ewers and Miller are modest in comparison to what Willis offers the unit. The offense will, presumably, be built around that. And this regime didn’t pick either Ewers or Miller. Ewers is now hurt, to boot. I’ll go Quinn for now but the confidence meter is low.
Running back (3)
IN: De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon II
OUT: Carlos Washington Jr., Donovan Edwards, FB D.J. Herman (R)
The skinny: Carlos Washington Jr. gets bumped from this projection versus the edition I put together last week. Achane’s role is going to be…high volume. And the numbers game with the rest of the roster has me believing that Washington Jr. may end up being better off as a practice squad stash who Miami can elevate if need be across a few weeks.
Wide receiver (6)
IN: Caleb Douglas (R), Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, Kevin Coleman Jr. (R), Chris Bell (R), AJ Henning
OUT: Tutu Atwell, Jalen Reagor, Terrace Marshall Jr., Tahj Washington, Theo Wease Jr., Donaven McCulley
The skinny: Rookie Chris Bell was activated this past week, which creates a domino effect since he’s no longer a reserve list candidate. He gets a bump as a result, but I also have young receiver AJ Henning leaping Tutu Atwell for the final spot in the room. Atwell’s camp has been, generally, uneventful. Henning, on the other hand, has splashed and recently has seen his opportunities elevated. That suggests the coaching staff sees the same thing.
Tight end (4)
IN: Greg Dulcich, Will Kacmarek (R), Ben Sims, Seydou Traore (R)
OUT: Cole Turner, Jeremiah Franklin (R)
The skinny: I am staying status quo this week at tight end. I believe the two rookie picks have an advantage thanks to their financial cost and long-term control. Traore does feel like he’s gone quiet this past week based on the practice reports, however. Ideally he’ll find some quality work in the passing game this weekend against the Giants.
Offensive line (9)
IN: LT Patrick Paul, LG Kadyn Proctor (R), C Aaron Brewer, RG Jonah Savaiinaea, RT Austin Jackson, OL Caedan Wallace, OG DJ Campbell (R), C Andrew Meyer, OT Charlie Heck
OUT: Gottlieb Ayedze, James Ester, Jim Bonifas (R), Josh Priebe, Kevin Cline (R), Marques Cox
Injured Reserve: OL Jamaree Salyer
The skinny: The football gods giveth and they taketh away. I loved the team’s trade for Caedan Wallace as a “buy low” candidate and a potential swing tackle. His addition, it turns out, was an ominous sign for Jamaree Salyer. He’s been placed on injured reserve. So we’re right back where we started up front — but with less experience in the swing spot.
Andrew Meyer’s safe thanks to his snapping experience. And the injury to Salyer elevates Charlie Heck off the bubble to serve as the 9th OL versus my projection last week.
Defensive line (5)
IN: Zach Sieler, Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips, Zeek Biggers, Matthew Butler
OUT: Alex Huntley, Keith Cooper Jr., Fatorma Mulbah, Cam Rice
The skinny: This group feels like it will remain status quo, although I do think that Fatorma Mulbah deserves a shoutout for his performance against the Washington Commanders last weekend. If the Dolphins were to really lean into the youth movement bit, you could make a pretty good argument that retaining Mulbah over Matthew Butler makes sense. But we are two more preseason games away from that conversation and Mulbah needs to shine in both.
Linebacker (5)
IN: Jordyn Brooks, Jacob Rodriguez (R), Tyrel Dodson, Kyle Louis (R), Ronnie Harrison Jr.
OUT: Jackson Woodard, Cam Riley
The skinny: This group is, as far as I’m concerned, ho-hum for now. There’s depth and versatility with a pair of mid-round draft picks sprinkled in. The only way I’m changing my mind on this unit is if you told me that the Miami Dolphins found a compelling trade offer for Tyrel Dodson, who is on a one-year deal and may not keep the starting spot opposite Brooks.
EDGE/Outside Linebacker (6)
IN: Chop Robinson, Joshua Uche, Clelin Ferrell, Trey Moore (R), Willie Gay Jr., David Ojabo
OUT: Cameron Goode, Robert Beal Jr., Max Llewellyn (R), Rodney McGraw (R), Seth Coleman-Lyles
Injured Reserve: Mason Reiger (R)
The skinny: Pour one out for undrafted rookie Mason Reiger, who cleared waivers this week and reverted back to the Dolphins’ injured reserve group. It’s a bummer for his season, but it does keep him in South Florida to develop after he recovers. I have David Ojabo up and Robert Beal Jr. down this week after the performance in the Washington preseason contest. As you can see, this room doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room and I think those guys are battling head to head for one spot, along with rookie Max Llewellyn and Cameron Goode.
Cornerback (6)
IN: Chris Johnson Jr. (R), JuJu Brents, Jason Marshall Jr., Ethan Bonner, Alex Austin, AJ Green III
OUT: Miles Battle, Nick McCloud, Marco Wilson, Ahmad Harvey, Ethan Robinson
PUP List: Darrell Baker Jr., Storm Duck
The skinny: The most compelling name left off here, at this point, is Miles Battle. He’s a supersized corner who has shown up and made plays in coverage in flashes. Is that enough to bump a journeyman veteran off the 53? I’m not sure. But he’s the one I have soft-circled to watch.
Safety (4)
IN: Dante Trader Jr., Zayne Anderson, Michael Taaffe (R), Lonnie Johnson Jr.
OUT: Louis Moore (R), Major Burns
The skinny: I’m at the stage where I simply want to see the combination of Trader Jr. and Anderson log their reps together and start to build for the start of the season. You can feel how much Jeff Hafley likes Michael Taaffe — but I’m not sure he’s ready for game action based on his play against the Commanders and in the joint practices. He gives you flashes though. And I believe Lonnie Johnson Jr.’s return to action has amplified that he is a physical player, which they’re looking for.
Specialists (3)
IN: K Riley Patterson, P Bradley Pinion, LS Tucker Addington
OUT: N/A
The skinny: Three players for three spots. Wrap it up.
Final Word
What’s most up in the air? I’d say CB6, EDGE/LB6, OL9, WR6, and QB2. The WR6 spot could feasibly go to any of the skill players left out: a third quarterback, a fourth running back, or another wide receiver. There’s a few rookies (Llewellyn, Moore) who I have on the outside looking in who may bolster their chances in the next week and a half, too.
Game on.
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