Dolphins roster bubble watch: Training camp conclusion

The Miami Dolphins have completed their 2016 training camp, closing out three weeks of practicing while staying at the team hotel. Thursday, the team travels to Texas to face the Dallas Cowboys on Friday, then will return to Miami where, starting next week, the team will begin their normal practice schedules, while the players to live back at home with their families.

Since training camp is over, we take the opportunity to update our roster bubble watch.

8/6 Roster Bubble Watch:

1. Brandon Doughty, quarterback
2. Damien Williams, running back
3. Terrence Fede, defensive end
4. Griff Whalen, wide receiver
5. Jordan Lucas, cornerback

8/14 Roster Bubble Watch:

1. Brandon Doughty, quarterback
2. Daniel Thomas, running back
3. Jordan Lucas, cornerback
4. Griff Whalen, wide receiver
5. Jamil Douglas, offensive lineman

Post-Camp Roster Bubble Watch (8/18)

1. Brandon Doughty, quarterback

Doughty still leads the bubble watch, even though many will immediately say he is on the roster and Matt Moore is off of it. That just does not seem likely, given Doughty has only appeared in one game and the coaches have pointed out that Doughty is reading his progressions incorrectly even if he is making completions. Add in that it will cost the Dolphins more to release Moore than it will to keep him, and it does not seem like the team will release the veteran. That said, Doughty does seem to be making a case for the team to keep three quarterbacks on the roster, and he is moving closer and closer to being off the bubble. Another good showing this week could get him completely off this list.

2. Griff Whalen, wide receiver

This is another player on the bubble list where the comments below will immediately say he is a surefire lock to be on the roster. People will point to Whalen playing with the first team against the Giants as to why he is a lock. Of course, the first-team offense played a total of seven plays, and did it without DeVante Parker. Miami really has five locks at wide receiver: Jarvis Landry, Parker, Kenny Stills, Leonte Carroo, and Jakeem Grant. The sixth spot could go to Whalen or Matt Hazel, or it could be the spot sacrificed to keep Doughty on the roster. Whalen should be on an NFL roster, and he could make Miami’s, but it is a numbers game and he might not be as safe as some think.

3. Jordan Lucas, cornerback

Lucas is slowly working his way up the bubble watch, originally listed as the fifth player and likely on the wrong side of the cut line. Right now, he might be sitting directly on that line. He started off slowly in camp, but appears to be finding his rhythm now and beginning to look like a developmental rookie at a position that is not overly deep for the Dolphins. He could claim a roster spot with some special teams work.

4. Earl Mitchell, defensive tackle

Mitchell appears to be starter next to Ndamukong Suh, but he has been hurt recently and has not seen practice time, nor did he play against the Giants (though most of the starting defensive line did not play). Mitchell could be one of those players who are either a starter, or are not on the roster. Mitchell’s position on the roster could come down to how well Jordan Phillips plays the rest of the summer.

5. Chimdi Chekwa, cornerback

Lucas is moving up on the possibility of making the roster list, probably because Chekwa seems to be moving the wrong direction. He has been hurt recently, so maybe it is unfair to drop him this far, but whenever the coaches seemed to give Chekwa the opportunity to push for the starting spot opposite Byron Maxwell, Chekwa was not consistent enough to displace Tony Lippett, and Bobby McCain had a good game on the outside last week. All those factors could lead to Chekwa being the odd-man-out.