Dolphins Sign Defensive Tackle, Release Verone McKinley III from Practice Squad
The Miami Dolphins worked out Trevon Coley, Carlos Davis and Justin Ellis, three veteran defensive tackles, and tryout three linebackers, but only sign Ellis
The Miami Dolphins are finally beefing up the defensive line, potentially addressing a position of concern for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio as the team heads into the final stretch of of the season.
Miami signed defensive tackle Justin Ellis, a nine-year veteran who has played for Oakland (2014-18), Baltimore (2019-21) and the N.Y. Giants (2022), adding the 6-foot-2, 334 pounder to the practice squad a day after having him tryout alongside fellow defensive linemen Trevon Coley and Carlos Davis.
Ellis has appeared in 117 career games with 54 starts, recording 182 tackles (100 solo), 1.5 sacks and three passes defensed. the former fourth-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft has also played in five postseason games.
He joins Byron Cowart and Brandon Pili as the defensive linemen on the practice squad, which generally helps the first-team offense get prepared for each opponent. Practice squad players can be called up to the 53-man roster three times during the regular season, participating in games.
The Dolphins already have Christian Wilkins, Zach Sieler, Raekwon Davis and Da’Shawn Hand on the 53-man roster, and as far as we know none of the four are nursing a significant injury.
To make room for Ellis on the 16-player practice squad the Dolphins release safety Verone McKinley III, a former Oregon standout who has been with the franchise for the past two seasons.
McKinley played in 10 career games with two starts, all for the Dolphins in 2022.
He’s totaled 16 tackles (10 solo), one interception and one pass defensed in his NFL career.
McKinley was the only safety on Miami’s practice squad, but the presence of Jevon Holland and De’Shon Elliott, the two starters, Brandon Jones and Nik Needham, a cornerback who also plays safety, made his the most expendable option.
Ellis spent training camp with the Atlanta Falcons, but didn’t make it onto the Falcons’ 53-man roster or practice squad.
The Dolphins also in the market for some linebacker help in light of the knee injury Jerome Baker suffered against the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
Miami brought in a former first-round pick for a workout Wednesday to see if Reuben Foster could help fortify that unit’s depth, but Foster announced on his social media account he wasn’t being signed.
Also brought in for a workout was linebacker Jermaine Carter, who has started 31 games for the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns, contributing 194 tackles, Marcus Haynes, a former Old Dominion standout who was released from the Denver Broncos practice squad last week, and Terrell Lewis, a former Alabama standout who was taken in the third round of the 2020 draft by the Los Angeles Rams.
Lewis has contributed 40 tackles and six sacks in the 30 games he’s plyed the past three seasons, which includes seven starts. Lewis has spent time on the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints practice squad the past two seasons, but got released from the Saints in October.
Miami’s coaches and decision makers possibly view inside linebacker depth as a concern because the only healthy player behind David Long Jr. and Duke Riley at the moment is Channing Tindall, who has had a slow start to his NFL career.
Miami also has Alexander Johnson on the practice squad, and it’s possible that Johnson could be added to the game day roster for three games, which is the maximum amount of promotions allowed for practice squad players before they need to be elevated to the 53-man roster.
