2021 Dolphins Roster Cuts: News, rumors, instant analysis, and more

The deadline for all 32 NFL teams to have their rosters cut down from their current state to 53-players is tomorrow at 4 PM EST, and most teams around the NFL have already started making critical cuts.

Head coach Brian Flores spoke about the tough decisions ahead for his staff over these next 24 hours. Here’s what the Miami Dolphins head coach said during his Monday morning press conference.

“We’ll probably – we were actually just meeting this – make a few today and then make the finals tomorrow. Obviously, we have to do that tomorrow by 4 p.m. It’s always a tough day. There’s always tough decisions to make. You start thinking about what you’re going to say to the player; but yeah, probably some today and some tomorrow.”

Those cuts that Brian Flores promised have already started. And we here at The Phinsider will have you covered with up-to-the-minute news and analysis through the night and tomorrow’s 4 PM Deadline.

Here is the latest on the Miami Dolphins 53-man roster cuts.

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2021 Miami Dolphins 53-Man Roster Status

54 players on the active roster? ( I think ) Doesn’t feel like those were all the players the team needed to cut, but I don’t know. Updated last on 4:15 PM ET)

*Durval Queiroz Neto is exempt

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2021 Miami Dolphins Reserve List Players

• WR Lynn Bowden Jr.
• LB Vince Biegel

UPDATE: 9:58am ET, 8/31: It has not been made official or reported as a completed move yet, but according to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, rookie offensive tackle Larnel Coleman is likely headed to Injured Reserve on Tuesday, and it could come before the 4pm ET roster deadline, which would end Coleman’s season. The rookie has a knee injury and will require surgery which could sideline him for at least a couple of months.

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2021 Miami Dolphins Rumors

• Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports has reported (several times) that the Miami Dolphins still have interest in Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
• NFL sports agent Drew Rosenhaus, said yesterday evening, that he would not be surprised at all if Deshaun Watson was with the Miami Dolphins for the first week of the season.
• UPDATE 12:55 PM ET, 8/31: Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald is reporting that the Miami Dolphins are looking for a way to keep rookie defensive back Trill Williams on the 53-man roster.

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2021 Miami Dolphins Cut Tracker

• The Dolphins have waived defensive back Tino Ellis per his agent Dan Saffron.

• NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting the Dolphins released former CFL rookie of the year, Nate “Hardcore” Holley.

• Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the Miami Dolphins released running back Jordan Scarlett and wide receiver Khalil McClain.

UPDATE: 4:10 PM EST, 8/30

The Miami Dolphins have released EDGE Tyshun Render per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

UPDATE 5:55pm ET, 8/30

The Dolphins released center Matt Skura, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The move should not come as a surprise (despite Rapoport’s tweet), given the team’s trade for Greg Mancz, who will likely make the team as the backup to Michael Deiter at center and for the guards. Skura could be re-signed by the Dolphins after Week 1, which would prevent his entire salary from being guaranteed. It also frees up $1.35 million in cap space.

The Dolphins have also released fullback Carl Tucker, according to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. Tucker seemed a camp body who never really caught on. Miami will likely use either a tight end or defensive lineman Christian Wilkins if they need a fullback in short-yardage situations.

UPDATE: 7:07pm ET, 8/30

The Dolphins are releasing linebacker Benardrick McKinney, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This one is a little surprising. The Dolphins acquired McKinney in a trade back in March, sending a 2021 sixth-round pick and Shaq Lawson to the Houston Texans for McKinney and a 2021 seventh-round pick. McKinney appeared to be a starting inside linebacker for the Dolphins, though he never jumped off the page during the summer. The Dolphins likely are looking at Elandon Roberts to start next to Jerome Baker now. Roberts started the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a knee injury, but since being cleared has been playing really well. It appears he was playing well enough to make McKinney expendable.

Interesting sidenote, Lawson was traded by the Texans to the New York Jets on Sunday, meaning neither player is with the team who traded for him.

UPDATE 1:00 PM ET, 8/31

• Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald is reporting that the Miami Dolphins have released wide receiver Kai Locksley.

UPDATE 3:16 PM EST, 8/31

• The Miami Dolphins have also waived tight end Chris Myarick per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

• The Miami Dolphins have also released quarterback Reid Sinnett after his stellar performance vs the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. It was unlikely the Dolphins would keep three quarterbacks on the active roster.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting the Miami Dolphins are interested in stashing Sinnett on the practice squad, which makes a ton of sense given the uncertainty that surrounds the position.

Nevertheless, the news is bitter-sweet for a guy that just led the team to an improbable 29-26 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Here’s to hoping he lands on the practice squad because what we saw from Sinnett was impressive, to say the least.

UPDATED 3:30 PM EST, 8/31

• Pro Football Network’s Adam Beasley, the Miami Dolphins have agreed to restructure wide receiver Jakeem Grant’s contract for the 2021 season. Grant will make up to $3-million this year, before becoming a free agent in 2022. (The restructure voids the final two years of Grant’s contract)

• The Miami Dolphins have released defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

UPDATE 3:36 PM EST, 8/31

• Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald continues to be the only person breaking news, so it may be easier to just post the feed to his timeline on the site at this point.

Jackson announced a few minutes ago that the Miami Dolphins have released cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc. LeBlanc had a forced fumble last week vs the Atlanta Falcons, and with experience starting in the league, I would have guessed he would have been one of the players on the roster when all is said and done.

The veteran cornerback is now a free agent.

UPDATED 3;48 PM EST, 8/31

I’m likely just going to add the rest of the cuts to this thread right here.

If you’re not following Barry Jackson by now, you need to change that.

• Barry Jackson is reporting that the Miami Dolphins have released defensive end Jason Strowbridge and center Cameron Tom.

• The Dolphins have released veteran running back Patrick Laird, making rookie Gerrid Doaks a potential lock for the 53-man roster. You will be missed, our Laird and Savior!

UPDATE: 4:00 PM ET, 8/31

All of these reports come courtesy of Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

• The Miami Dolphins have released wide receivers, Kirk Merritt and Malcolm Perry.

Update 4:26 pm ET, 8/31

• The Miami Dolphins have cut linebacker Calvin Munson.

UPDATE 4:43 PM ET, 8/31

The Miami Dolphins have cut linebacker Shaq Griffin

UPDATE 6:00 PM ET, 8/31

The Miami Dolphins have now officially announced their 53-man roster.

Here’s the link.

• Defensive tackle Benito Jones and running back Gerrid Doaks were also cut.