Dolphins make cuts to get to 53-man roster, releasing LB Tyrel Dodson

The Miami Dolphins have released linebacker Tyrel Dodson as part of a set of roster moves to reach the NFL’s 53-man roster limit for the regular season, according to Pro Football Rumors. The decision is one of several cuts the team made to shape its final depth chart after the preseason.

Roster reductions like this are usually the most consequential moves teams make before the first meaningful weeks of the schedule, because players must either clear waivers or be re-signed to practice-squad roles to remain in the organization. For Miami, releasing Dodson indicates the team is ready to prioritize other options at the linebacker positions within its final structure.

Pro Football Rumors’ breakdown of the Dolphins’ 53-man roster moves also included multiple other players being waived in the same process. The list in the report includes Gottlieb Ayedze, Miles Battle, Major Burns, Jeremiah Franklin, Mark Gronowski, Jarquez Hunter, Donaven McCulley, Rodney McGraw, Jai’Onte’ McMillan, Cam Miller, Fatorma Mulbah, Cam Riley, Carlos Washington Jr., and additional moves involving players released as the team hit the roster number.

Among the names noted in the report, the Dolphins also handled position-group balancing decisions, stretching across defensive backs, tight ends, offensive skill players, and quarterback depth in addition to linebacker. Those cross-group moves typically reflect how coaches value special teams roles, continuity in base schemes, and how a roster fills out after evaluation of offseason work.

Dodson’s release matters most for what it means to the Dolphins internally rather than to his availability elsewhere, because the NFL’s waiver process gives other teams a chance to claim a player or wait to see if he becomes available for a different opportunity. Without an official Dolphins transaction release in the available coverage, the timing and exact procedural outcomes beyond “released” are not confirmed here.

The immediate next step for Miami will be to confirm which of the remaining players are kept on the active roster and which players, if any, continue with the team in other capacities after this round of cuts. For players on the fringe, the first waiver wave can quickly determine whether the season path stays in Miami or shifts to another organization.

For fans watching the Dolphins’ defensive identity and special teams depth, the roster cut is a quick window into the staff’s preferences. The reported mix of waivers across multiple positions suggests the team is prioritizing a specific 53-man blend, one that could influence how often certain defensive packages and coverage groupings appear early in the regular season.