Projecting the Dolphins Practice Squad Possibilities

The Miami Dolphins will have to release more than 20 players by Saturday afternoon, but several of their young players figure to be back on the practice squad and we identify the most logical candidates

The 2020 season will be different in a lot of ways and one of them will be the practice squad.

Because of the circumstances and uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic, teams will be permitted to have 16 players on their practice squad as opposed to the usual 10. Furthermore, as many of six of those practice squad players can be veterans, also an increase over years past.

That's something to keep an eye on as the Dolphins and teams throughout the NFL make their roster cuts.

Of course, players have to clear waivers before they can be re-signed to the practice squad.

Before you dismiss the practice squad, just remember that cornerback Nik Needham started 11 games in 2019 after starting the season on that practice squad.

With all that in mind, here is a list of Dolphins players who very well could end up on the practice squad if they don't make the initial 53-man roster. And this list is going to reflect what we projected as that 53-man roster, which remains intact except for veteran wide receiver Chester Rogers.

Here are the players we projected to not make the 53-man roster: RB Salvon Ahmed, FB Chandler Cox, TE Chris Myarick, TE Nate Wieting, WR Mack Hollins, WR Matt Cole, WR Gary Jennings, WR Kirk Merritt, G/C Keaton Sutherland, G Shaq Calhoun, T Jonathan Hubbard, T Adam Pankey, DE Avery Moss, DE Tyshun Render, DT Brandin Bryant, DT Benito Jones, LB James Crawford, LB Kylan Johnson, LB Trent Harris, CB Tae Hayes, CB Deatrick Nichols, CB Jamal Perry, CB Ken Webster, DB Nate Brooks, S Jeremiah Dinson, S Nate Holley.

First off, it's entirely possible some of these players could end making the 53-man roster. At the top of that list would be WR Mack Hollins, G Shaq Calhoun, G/C Keaton Sutherland, DT Benito Jones, LB Kylan Johnson, CB Tae Hayes, CB Jamal Perry and CB Ken Webster.

If they don't make the 53-man roster, they also would be at the top of the list of candidates to be on the practice squad — again, provided they don't get claimed off waivers.

Others we easily could see back on the practice squad: FB Chandler Cox, TE Chris Myarick, WR Kirk Merritt, DE Tyshun Render, DB Nate Brooks and S Nate Holley.

Based on past experience, what we can tell you for sure if that most, if not all of the Dolphins' practice squad members will be players who have been with the team before or this summer.