The Miami Dolphins released quarterback Tim Boyle on Friday, a move that surprised no one. This opens up a roster spot that could be filled by someone for the gameday lineup. Any guesses on who it might be?
One possibility is Odell Beckham Jr., who could be added to the roster ahead of the team’s game against New England. Head coach Mike McDaniel hinted that Beckham might be activated from the PUP list and play against the Patriots. Will that happen?
Miami has several roster decisions to consider, as cornerback Cam Smith is eligible to return, and River Cracraft might not be far behind. Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa is still a few weeks away from returning from the IR list, not eligible to come back until Week 8.
Beckham makes the most sense for the Dolphins, who need a reliable third receiver on the roster. Dolphins fans should be excited about this possibility, but it’s important to temper that enthusiasm due to his limited understanding of the system and lack of practice time.
As for Boyle, he probably should never have been signed by the Dolphins in the first place. He will need to clear waivers, and once he does, Miami will look to add him to the practice squad. The decision to release Boyle indicates that Skylar Thompson is ready to serve as the backup quarterback in Week 5.
Thompson was sidelined with a chest injury last week, and the starting role has since been handed to Tyler Huntley, who will start against the Patriots on Sunday. It will be interesting to see what the Dolphins do once Tagovailoa returns, as the pecking order seems to have been established.
Ultimately, the Dolphins’ future moves will hinge on Huntley’s performance in the next two games. If he struggles, he could also find himself released. If Beckham is activated this week, he is likely to have a limited snap count on Sunday as he works to get back into NFL shape.
