Preseason roster shuffle: Jaguars, Dolphins and Jets make a flurry of minor moves

The NFL’s preseason operates as a high-turnover audition. On Sunday, several teams used that window to make “minor” transactions that can still matter when rosters begin narrowing. Multiple moves on 8/23/26 centered on reserve-leaning defensive backs and linemen, along with a couple of late-preseason auditions at skill positions.

In Jacksonville, the Jaguars added defensive tackle Tommy Akingbesote, a move that came with an important procedural detail: he was waived with an injury designation. An injury designation does not guarantee a player’s status one way or another, but it does report the team is balancing health considerations with roster math during a time when the club is trying to evaluate multiple bodies.

Across the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins claimed cornerback Devon Marshall off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts. Waiver claims are a direct indicator that at least one team believes there is value worth taking a look at immediately, often because the player’s traits fit a coaching staff’s system or because special-teams potential and depth needs create an opening.

The Dolphins’ waiver activity also extended to cornerback Jai’Onte’ McMillan, also listed as claimed off waivers from the Colts. For teams in late-preseason rhythm, a second secondary claim from the same origin club can point to a broader theme: both evaluation and contingency planning for the final cuts, especially in the defensive back rotation where practice reps and special teams assignments can decide late roster spots.

The New York Jets participated in the same roster cycle by signing defensive end Anthony Dunn and running back Dominic Richardson. Those moves are typical of preseason operations where coaches look for micro-advantages, such as whether a defensive lineman can win early downs against backups, or whether a running back can handle carry competition and pass-protection responsibilities against second- and third-team fronts.

Later on Sunday, the Jets also made a related procedural move at the receiver position, waiving wide receiver Caullin (last name not fully shown in the available transaction summary). In addition, New York placed tight end Tanner Wall in the waiver pipeline with an injury designation. Together, the Jets’ signings and waivers underscore a common preseason pattern: keeping options open while teams sort out which players can stay healthy and productive through the final week of evaluation.

What to watch next is not who starts in September, but which of these players convert a late-preseason opportunity into a place on the final roster. Waiver claims can surface players who suddenly fit a team’s schemes, and injury designations can shift quickly depending on how practice and recovery progress. As teams move into the final stretch, expect more of these incremental roster updates, especially at the margins of the depth chart.