{"id":362178,"date":"2026-08-04T04:30:42","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T04:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/362178\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T04:30:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T04:30:42","slug":"ex-dolphins-starter-cut-by-49ers-during-training-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/362178\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Dolphins Starter Cut by 49ers During Training Camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Miami\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JANUARY 07: Eli Apple #33 of the Miami Dolphins runs with the ball after intercepting a pass during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Over the past few seasons, the Miami Dolphins<\/a> have relied on veteran talent to build out their roster. Whether they acquired those veterans via free agency or blockbuster trade varied, but what ended up happening with Miami is that their roster aged quickly and the team began to struggle as they missed the postseason in 2024 and 2025, after previously making the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.<\/p>\n

Now, one of those veterans that was called upon to bolster their team during one of the team\u2019s playoff runs has just been cut by the San Francisco 49ers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Former Miami Dolphins Cornerback Released<\/p>\n

The #49ers<\/a> have released veteran CB Eli Apple. <\/p>\n

The San Francisco 49ers announced <\/a>they had released veteran former first-round pick cornerback Eli Apple, who played with the Miami Dolphins during the 2023 season.<\/p>\n

Regarding the move, Athlon Sports\u2019 Bryce Lazenby wrote<\/a>: \u201cOne of the moves the team made was to release veteran cornerback Eli Apple. Apple is a former first-round pick who has never quite panned out in the NFL<\/a>. The veteran joined the 49ers last season, but only saw action in two games.<\/p>\n

For Eli Apple, this is another disappointing development in his NFL career. The corner was drafted by the New York Giants<\/a> in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, but he never came close to living up to that billing.<\/p>\n

The 49ers hoped Apple would have a late-career renaissance, but that never happened, and now he\u2019s looking for another new team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dolphins on SI\u2019s Alain Poupart previously wrote<\/a> about Apple\u2019s tenure with the Dolphins: \u201cApple started four of the 10 games he played for the Dolphins. Apple did a serviceable job for the Dolphins, one of the highlights coming when he picked off Josh Allen in the end zone in the first quarter of the Week 18 AFC East showdown against the Buffalo Bills<\/a> at Hard Rock Stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n

During his stint in 2023 with the Dolphins, in which he started Miami\u2019s last playoff game, Apple earned a 50.3 cornerback grade from Pro Football Focus<\/a>, which ranked him as a bottom-30 cornerback in the NFL. At the time, Apple\u2019s mediocre performance caused Dolphins fans to have a negative reaction to the cornerback, as they felt 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith should get more playing time. Smith never started an NFL game for the Dolphins before being released.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Miami Dolphins Secondary<\/p>\n

While Apple does fit the bill of a player with draft pedigree who\u2019s searching for a new opportunity in the NFL, his age likely takes him out of the running for a potential reunion with the Miami Dolphins in 2026.<\/p>\n

Regarding how Miami\u2019s secondary is expected to look in 2026, Dolphins on SI\u2019s Alain Poupart wrote<\/a> after the first week of training camp: \u201cI expect JuJu Brents and Chris Johnson to start outside with Jason Marshall Jr. coming in when Johnson lines up in the slot, with the safety spots going to Dante Trader Jr. and either Zayne Anderson or Lonnie Johnson Jr.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brents and Johnson are both players with strong draft pedigrees, as Brents is a former second-round pick while Johnson<\/a> was a late first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tJose Esquer<\/a> Jose Esquer is a Mexican-American sportswriter and communications student based in San Diego, CA. His work spans football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He has written for platforms like RotoWire and DolphinsTalk. You can find him on Twitter\/X @JEsquer8, usually talking Dolphins, world football, or both. More about Jose Esquer<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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