A six-pack of Dolphins notes on a Monday:
▪ Because of injuries, linebacker – at least temporarily – has gone from one of this roster’s few strengths to a problem.
Jordyn Brooks (compression sleeve on his leg), Trey Moore (ankle), Tyrel Dodson (undisclosed injury) and Ronnie Harrison (hamstring) all remained out Monday, and the Dolphins — needing bodies — added Jaheim Thomas, who hasn’t played an NFL snap since leaving Wisconsin after 2024.
The Dolphins opted for Thomas over veteran NFL starter Kenneth Murray, who reportedly also worked out for Miami. Murray, a former Chargers first round pick (23rd overall) in 2020, has started 83 games in six seasons, including 16 games for the Cowboys last season. Pro Football Focus rated him 86th of 88 linebackers last year.
Thomas is the second inside linebacker added by the team over the past four days, joining Stephen Dix Jr., who made defensive calls during the second half of Saturday’s game despite being on the team for less than 48 hours.
Thomas played three seasons at Cincinnati, one at Arkansas and one at Wisconsin, where he had 53 tackles (two for loss) and a sack. He had 236 tackles (15.5 for loss) in 52 college games, including 21 starts.
Thomas then appeared in 10 games with the Louisville Kings of the United Football League during the 2026 UFL season, recording 64 tackles and half a sack.
Among the 10 inside linebackers listed on the depth chart, four are out (Brooks, Dodson, Moore and Harrison), one is now playing mostly safety (Kyle Louis) and another just joined the team (Dix).
That leaves Willie Gay Jr., rookie Jacob Rodriguez, Jackson Woodard, Cam Riley and now Thomas.
Woodard who had five tackles and a fumble recovery on Saturday, is making a strong case for a spot on the 53. Riley had 10 tackles Saturday but also allowed 8 of 10 targets in his coverage area to be caught, per PFF. Rodriguez permitted one pass in his coverage area to be caught for 29 yards.
Coach Jeff Hafley hasn’t been asked yet about Dodson’s injury but said Brooks should be able to play in the regular season opener Sept. 13 at the Raiders.
▪ The Dolphins made three other roster moves on Monday, waiving center Jim Bonifas and cornerback Ahmari Harvey and signing tight end Ethan Conner.
Conner spent the offseason and part of training camp with the Jaguars after going undrafted in April. He played three seasons at Troy (2023-25), appearing in 28 games with 17 starts and recording 59 receptions for 680 yards (11.5 per catch) with seven touchdowns. He transferred to Troy from East Mississippi Community College following the 2022 season.
The Dolphins have been short-handed at tight end; Will Kacmarek, Seydou Traore and Ben Sims were all sidelined Monday. Before the addition of Connor, the only healthy tight ends on the roster were Greg Dulcich, Cole Turner and Jeremiah Franklin.
▪ Even if Malik Washington plays the majority of snaps on offense, which is expected, that won’t affect his workload on special teams, coordinator Chris Tabor suggested Monday.
Washington remains the team’s best option as a punt and kickoff returner.
“I understand everyone’s workload,” Tabor said. “I’m very well aware of it because that’s how I have to craft our depth. But at the same time if a player is dynamic and can have the ball in his hands and can change a game, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to do that.
“Now, are we trying to develop other guys? No question. I always say I always like to have a lot of horses in the stable, and so we’re still trying to get some more horses ready to go. But he’s a dynamic player and I’d hate to have a dynamic player sitting on the sidelines.”
▪ Asked if Riley Patterson is definitely the team’s kicker in the wake of Zane Gonzalez’s injury, Tabor gave him an endorsement but stopped short of answering.
“You’re always competing and he knows that,” Tabor said. “I feel terrible for Zane because Zane was doing a really, really good job. But Riley has stepped up since then and I really like where he’s at.”
▪ Roster chatter on offense: I’m still waiting for a single one of the veteran receivers – Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell, Terrace Marshall or Jalen Reagor – to make a convincing case to be on the team, alongside automatics Malik Washington, Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas.
Tolbert has the strongest case to stick, but Miami should be looking for veteran help on the waiver wire next Sunday night. Atwell remains among the biggest disappointments of camp…
None of the backup offense tackles has made a convincing case; Caedan Wallace’s first two games have gone poorly. Charlie Heck has been uneven, but it’s not as if the Dolphins have anyone better to back up Patrick Paul and Austin Jackson, presuming they want to leave Kadyn Proctor at guard this year (their preference)….
Josh Priebe, graded by PFF as Miami’s best player on offense Saturday, is now a clear front-runner for a backup guard job. And I found it interesting that he received center snaps on Saturday.
▪ Roster chatter on defense: Defensive lineman Keith Cooper Jr. has had some very good moments, and injuries to Kenneth Grant and Zach Sieler could create an opening on the 53 for him. He can play inside or outside, and it’s a tough call between Cooper and Matthew Butler…
Is there a single starting safety on this roster? Dante Trader Jr. might be, but Zayne Anderson seems nothing more than a stopgap. His limitations were reinforced when he took a bad angle on a Giants player Saturday, leading to a long gain…
It’s difficult to see Lonnie Johnson sticking ahead of Louis Moore, if either makes the team. Rookie Michael Taaffe likely is the No. 3, and the Dolphins could simply count Louis as a safety since he’s playing a lot at that position now…
If Juju Brents makes the team as the third corner as most expected before camp started (along with Chris Johnson and Jason Marshall Jr., who are automatics), then jobs four through six remain a tossup among Ethan Bonner (I would make him a front-runner), Alex Austin and Marco Wilson, with AJ Green, Miles Battle and weekend addition Jai’Onte’ McMillan also competing.
Here were the coverage numbers for those bubble players in Saturday’s game, per PFF:
Bonner relinquished two completions in two targets, for 18 yards… Austin allowed all three passes in his coverage area to be caught for 25 yards… Wilson permitted one of two to be caught for 19 yards… Green permitted two of three to be caught for 12 yards… Battle permitted three catches in four targets, for 15 yards.
Here’s a full recap of Monday’s Dolphins practice.
Here’s my media column on CBS’ Tony Romo fallout, where that situation stands and a look at all of the NFL media changes.
This story was originally published August 24, 2026 at 2:58 PM.
Miami Herald
Barry Jackson has written for the Miami Herald since 1986 and has written the Florida Sports Buzz column since 2002.