The Phinsider
The Miami Dolphins completed their roster cuts on Tuesday, dropping from 91 players on the roster to the league’s 53-man regular season limit. The moves came throughout the day, eventually working to 24 offensive players, 26 defensive players, and two special teamers. Now, the fun begins.
Starting on Wednesday, once the waiver wire transactions are complete, Miami will be able to sign players to the practice squad. This group of players is primarily younger players who need more development time but will be sprinkled with veterans who could quickly find themselves on the field on game day.
We will keep up with all of the rumors, reports, signings, and changes as the practice squad is filled. Keep in mind, reports can be made, then the player land with another team when a better offer is made. Typically, the first players signed are players the team just cut, but there will be some moves to bring in free agent veterans or players from other teams as well.
We also have all the rules for the practice squad so you can make sure to keep up with everything.
Teams can begin signing players to their practice squad at 12 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday. Prior to that start time, the league will complete the claims process for any players who were subject to waivers rather than receiving an outright release.
Players with less than four accrued seasons in the NFL must go through the waivers process. To accrue a season of service time in the NFL, a player must be on a roster (to include injured reserve time) for more than six games in a season. Players on the practice squad are not receiving that service time (and that is why you will see players who are listed as in their first year, but not a rookie, on team rosters).
Players with more than four accrued seasons a released by their former team and do not have to go through the waivers process. They are immediately considered free agents and can sign with another team – either their 53-man roster or onto the practice squad.
Teams are limited to 16 players on the practice squad – with a 17th allocation authorized for a developmental player in the league’s International Pathway Program. The Dolphins waived rookie offensive lineman Bayron Matos on Tuesday, but likely will bring him back to the practice squad as that 17th player.
The 16 standard allocations for the practice squad have some limits on who can be signed to those positions. Ten of the slots are restricted to players with less than two accrued seasons in the NFL. The other six positions are not limited and can be used to sign veteran players who have been in the league for more than two seasons.
For 2024, players with less...
