The Miami Dolphins’ announced their list of cuts Tuesday at the 4 p.m. deadline to get down to 53 players on the initial active roster for the 2023 season.
The Dolphins that were let go Tuesday: Wide receiver Robbie Chosen, running back Myles Gaskin, defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand, tight ends Tyler Kroft, Tanner Conner and Elijah Higgins, defensive backs Justin Bethel, Jamal Perry, Bryce Thompson, Ethan Bonner, Trill Williams and Parry Nickerson, offensive linemen Cedric Ogbuehi, Ryan Hayes and Alama Uluave, outside linebackers Malik Reed and Cameron Goode and wide receiver Braylon Sanders.
That means undrafted rookies in defensive tackle Brandon Pili, tight end Julian Hill and running back Chris Brooks are among players to make the initial roster. Offensive lineman Kion Smith is also a surprise player to make the team.
“That is the journey that is the most difficult to navigate that really exists,” coach Mike McDaniel said of the undrafted rookies making the roster. “It can look insurmountable. … That is such a monumental task that so few people can undertake.”
Miami also waived and reached an injury settlement with wide receiver Daewood Davis, who suffered a scary head injury in Saturday’s preseason finale in Jacksonville and is in concussion protocol.
Cornerback Nik Needham will start the season on the reserve/physically-unable-to-perform list due to his recovery from an Achilles tear last season. He will miss at least the first four games of the 2023 season. Tight end Eric Saubert and cornerback Keion Crossen were placed on injured reserve, essentially ending their 2023 seasons, unless a later injury settlement is reached.
With Chosen out, that means Cedrick Wilson Jr., who had his contract restructured Tuesday, Erik Ezukanma and River Cracraft made the team after a top three of Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Braxton Berrios at wide receiver.
Gaskin spent the past four seasons with the Dolphins and was looking to earn a spot on the team this season. He has run for 1,355 yards and seven touchdowns on 361 rushing attempts over his four-year career in Miami. He also has 101 receptions for 701 yards and six receiving touchdowns.
Gaskin, a 2019 seventh-round pick out of Washington, led the Dolphins in rushing in 2020 and 2021, but in the first year under McDaniel last season, he was limited to just 10 carries for 26 yards.
Despite a fading role in the offense, he was back with the team for offseason workouts and training camp, competing for a job in a crowded backfield for the Dolphins.
With veteran running backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. returning and the the Dolphins drafting rookie tailback De’Von Achane in the third round, it appeared Gaskin was in competition with longtime backfield mate Salvon Ahmed. Ahmed outperformed Gaskin during camp and the preseason. Brooks impressed in playing time late in preseason games during the exhibition season.
Hand was signed Aug. 6 as the Dolphins looked to add veteran depth to the defensive line. He has 31 games of NFL experience since 2018, mostly with the Detroit Lions.
Hand, however, suffered an injury during camp that kept him to workouts on the side of practice during latter portions of the preseason.
Saubert was signed in March to provide another veteran blocking tight end in Miami’s rotation at the position, but he was injured in the preseason finale. Higgins was the Dolphins’ sixth-round draft pick that the team was looking to convert to tight end after being a big receiver in college.
Hayes was the Dolphins’ seventh-round draft pick in April. Uluave was an undrafted rookie and one of few linemen who could play center behind Connor Williams after the Dolphins traded Dan Feeney to the Chicago Bears late Monday night, but Liam Eichenberg also practiced at the position this offseason.
The Dolphins began working down from 90 players on the training camp roster Monday, announcing 14 cuts.
The Monday cuts were: Wide receivers Keke Coutee and Chris Coleman, linebackers A.J. Johnson, Aubrey Miller II, Mitchell Agude and Garrett Nelson, quarterback James Blackman, defensive tackles Jaylen Twyman, Josiah Bronson and Jamal Woods, defensive end Randy Charlton, safety Keidron Smith and offensive tackles Geron Christian and James Tunstall.
Players who are vested veterans — meaning they have at least four seasons of NFL experience — get released when they are let go while players with less experience are waived. Players who are released can immediately sign with any other NFL franchise. The others hit waivers, and waiver claims will be processed by noon Wednesday.
The Dolphins, after creating their initial 53-man roster, can take their pick of players released and waived from other teams for active-roster spots. They are expected to put players, such as defensive backs Jalen Ramsey Elijah Campbell and maybe Brandon Jones, on injured reserve after getting them on the initial 53, which creates space for other additions. Offensive lineman Robert Jones is also a candidate for IR after making the initial roster.
Miami will also begin formulating its 16-player practice squad Wednesday. On it, the team can bring back players that it originally cut.
