The Miami Dolphins have until 6 p.m. Sunday to cut down their active roster to the initial 53 players, but they got out in front of the process Saturday.
The Dolphins waived a dozen players Saturday, following Friday’s preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons.
The players cut: cornerback Alex Austin, wide receiver Theo Wease Jr., running backs Coleman Bennett and Donovan Edwards, linebackers Stephen Dix Jr. and Jaheim Thomas, safety Louis Moore, edge rusher Seth Coleman-Lyles, tackle Kevin Cline, defensive linemen Alex Huntley and Cam Rice and tight end Ethan Conner.
Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley, while noting the roster decisions ultimately fall on general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, spoke to the collaboration between the two in a Saturday web conference with reporters.
“It’s been constant communication every single week,” Hafley said. “I get his thoughts. He gets my thoughts. We ask the coaches their thoughts, scouts their thoughts. Him and I have been in lockstep every step of the way.
“He’s such a good communicator. He’s such a good listener. Ultimately, it’s his decision with the 53, and I’m going to do everything that I can to help him, but he’s done a really nice job.”
Austin is significant as a veteran who signed as a free agent in March, but he never made his mark during training camp.
Wease, who was a camp and preseason standout as an undrafted rookie in 2025, did not keep his momentum going as a second year player this training camp. He also dropped a touchdown pass Friday against the Falcons.
Moore was a touted undrafted free agent from this past rookie class, but he simply did not leave an impression in camp. Dix, Thomas, Bennett, Rice, Conner and Coleman-Lyles, after being cut initially and then being brought back, were all added onto the Dolphins’ roster during camp and had the odds stacked against them.
Bennett was a Cardinal Gibbons High alum. Dix gained fame in Miami’s second preseason game, against the New York Giants, for calling defensive plays late in the exhibition after only arriving to team headquarters that morning.
Cline hails from Boston College and was coached by Hafley there for three seasons.
Miami still has more than 20 cuts to make Sunday by the deadline.
Injury updates
On Saturday, Hafley said the team has had discussions over potentially using an injured reserve spot with a designation to return on defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, as he recovers from an undisclosed lower-body injury.
Such a designation would put Grant out a minimum of four games. The team can designate two active roster players as such and already figures to use one spot on linebacker Trey Moore.
Hafley said tight end Will Kacmarek is week to week with his injury and won’t be practicing this week.