The Miami Dolphins appear to be on the verge of welcoming back several key starters in the mix, be it this week against the New Orleans Saints or shortly thereafter. Right tackle Austin Jackson sounds as though he’s on the brink of being put back into the lineup and Miami has tight end Darren Waller joining him in the activation window from injured reserve this week as well. He’ll have 21 days to be activated.

But with the opportunity to add players back to the roster, Miami, of course, is facing a numbers crunch. For every player added to the roster, Miami must move one off the 53-man collection to accommodate them. Who are the roster’s current bubble players and who is at risk of paying the price for Miami’s looming returns?

Miami Dolphins’ roster bubble should feel leery with at least two looming returns on the horizon

EDGE Andre Carter II

The best thing that Carter II has going for him is he just got here. Interim general manager Champ Kelly plucked Carter II off the Lions practice squad just three weeks ago — did Miami get a good enough look at him to feel comfortable playing “the game” and trying to waive him and drop him back down to their own practice squad? Or is he flashing enough for them to warrant keeping him on the roster in hopes that the light bulb will come on for Carter II in the next six weeks?

CB A.J. Green

Ahem. The best thing that Green has going for him is he just got here. If Andre Carter II just got here three weeks ago, then Green JUST got here — he was signed off the Rams’ practice squad last week amid the injury to CB JuJu Brents. The NFL can be a cold world in this regard but I would consider Green’s status as a new addition and the other injuries at corner to put him in a safer space than his current NFL profile may suggest.

OL Kion Smith

Smith was given the first crack at stepping in at right guard for veteran James Daniels when he went down in Week 1. His time in the lineup was short-lived — Smith was yanked midway through Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills and the Dolphins have never looked back. He’ll be the team’s fifth-tackle with Austin Jackson returns, behind Jackson, Patrick Paul, Larry Borom, and Kendall Lamm. He’s proven to be an ill-advised option at guard.

So…where’s the value to keep a roster spot in that scenario?

DT Matthew Butler

Butler has seen his snaps dip in favor of seventh-round rookie Zeek Biggers in recent weeks. That development could prompt him to be considered the last man in the pecking order for a young defensive line room. Butler will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season, I would expect Miami would covet the chance to retain his services even as his play dips — therefore I’d assume he’s the safest name on this list.

WR Dee Eskridge

Eskridge hasn’t played since the Baltimore game with a shoulder injury and had seen his early-season opportunities as an ancillary weapon in the passing game wither away, too. Miami has been getting by just fine in the return game without him, too — meaning Eskridge, who is a veteran on a one-year contract, could be a candidate to push down in favor of keeping young talents like Tahj Washington. Given Miami’s heavy personnel embrace this past month, often playing 13 personnel with three tight ends or 22 personnel with two backs and two tight ends, keeping six receivers on the 53-man roster may feel a bit counterintuitive.

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