Dolphins re-sign QB Mark Gronowski and add LB Cam Riley in Sunday roster moves

The Miami Dolphins made a pair of notable roster adjustments on Sunday, highlighted by the team’s decision to bring back quarterback Mark Gronowski. Miami re-signed Gronowski nine days after waiving him, a quick turnaround that underscores how unsettled the quarterback competition and depth chart look during the preseason phase of roster building.

The timing is also notable for the Dolphins’ broader preseason posture. Gronowski’s return came just a couple of days after Miami’s opening preseason game, a 20-7 loss to the Washington Commanders. Preseason games often function as auditions for fringe roles, and moves like waiving and then re-signing a quarterback can reflect how teams recalibrate what they are seeing on the practice field and in game reps.

Alongside Gronowski, Miami also announced the signing of linebacker Cam Riley. Like many preseason roster transactions, the added defensive piece points to the constant churn around special teams and second- and third-team packages, where coaches frequently reshuffle bodies to see who fits scheme demands and execution standards.

For Gronowski, the return creates an immediate opportunity to re-enter the Dolphins’ quarterback mix. Even with an incumbent group occupying the majority of reps, teams keep multiple arms available because of matchup planning and the realities of preseason play. A player waived and re-signed within days suggests the Dolphins still value what he brings, whether as a developmental option, a practice-stabilizing presence, or a reliable body for reps.

It is also a reminder that preseason roster management can be non-linear. A waiver does not necessarily mean the organization has closed the door. Instead, it can be part of managing roster space, evaluating depth at multiple positions, and responding to how the first wave of preseason snaps shapes priorities moving forward.

With additional moves now on the books, the Dolphins’ next question is how these changes affect the pecking order for reps at quarterback and the linebacker group’s roles in early defensive packages and special teams. The immediate focus will be on who gets the next set of live opportunities and whether Miami’s game-to-game roster fluidity continues at a similar pace.

In the short term, fans and observers can look for follow-through on this Sunday’s announcements: whether Gronowski’s reappearance corresponds to increased practice reps with the group he is expected to support, and whether Cam Riley’s signing leads to visible utilization in team drills and the next preseason outing.