Miami Dolphins make first round of cuts, send Allen Hurns to IR

The inevitable trimming of the roster has begun. The Miami Dolphins needed to deplete the team down to 85 players by August 17, 4:00 P.M EST., and in order to do so, they have cut ties with OTs Jonathan Hubbard, Timon Parris, DT Jerome Johnson, guard Tyler Marz, and waived/injured CB Jaytlin Askew. For the final transaction, the Dolphins placed veteran WR Allen Hurns on injured reserve with a wrist injury.

Roster Moves | We have acquired T Greg Little from Carolina in exchange for a 2022 seventh-round pick.

We have waived/injured CB Jaytlin Askew, waived T Jonathan Hubbard, DT Jerome Johnson, G Tyler Marz, and T Timon Parris, and placed WR Allen Hurns on injured reserve.

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 17, 2021

Hurns, who will turn 30 in November, sat out 2020 due to Covid-19 concerns. Since his return, he hasn’t been able to make much of an impact in training camp. His best season was in 2015, where he caught 64 passes for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Jacksonville Jaguars. That performance prompted the Jaguars to reward Hurns with an extension for 4-years, $40.65 million. Two seasons later, he was released, and spent one year with the Dallas Cowboys before signing a 2-year deal with the Dolphins in 2019.

Due to Hurns’s injured status, there are extenuating circumstances. In order for him to play for Miami in 2021, he must reach an injury settlement with the Dolphins. The standard rules for players placed on injured reserve this season is that players can be taken off of injured reserve three weeks after going on. But that only applies after the preseason is over. So for Hurns to play with Miami, they must reach a settlement. Hurns then becomes a free agent, and can re-sign with the Dolphins (or anyone else).

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Hubbard, 24, is an undrafted free agent out of Northwestern State (LA) who was attempting to compete with the likes of Larnel Coleman for a spot on the roster as depth. But unfortunately for Hubbard, he never made enough of an impression to move up to the higher units in practice.

Parris, 25, signed on with Miami on May 20. He was then waived on June 14, and re-signed on July 19. Like Hubbard, Parris was competing for a reserve role with Coleman. But also like Hubbard, he didn’t leave a lasting impression. His likely fate is Miami’s practice squad if he’s not claimed elsewhere.

Johnson, 23, is a former standout from Indiana who was named Indiana’s Outstanding Lineman of the Year for his sophomore and junior years. In 2020, Big Ten coaches voted him second-team all-conference. With the amount of depth on the defensive line, Johnson was on the outside looking in. But he could easily become a target for the practice squad if he clears.

Tyler Marz is the second oldest out of the group. At 28 years old, Marz has spent two stints with the Tennessee Titans, one with the Los Angeles Chargers, and one with the Carolina Panthers. As a former Wisconsin starter at left tackle, he was moved inside to guard to better his chances. But unfortunately, he was not able to prove himself to Brian Flores.

The outlier here is CB Jaytlin Askew. Unlike the others, Askew has the waived/injured designation. Which means that before the Dolphins can place Askew on IR, he must clear waivers. Unlike the previous five players, Askew made some plays in the secondary. His release is a result of injury and a lack of space on Miami’s loaded defense. If Askew somehow clears waivers and is available when the time comes, expect Askew to eventually be stashed on the practice squad.

Thanks to the International Player Pathway program, the Miami Dolphins still have a roster exception. Durval Queiroz Neto was shifted from defensive tackle to guard after his first year in Miami, and he’s been working at it ever since.

The next deadline for cuts is August 24, and they will have to slim down to 80 players. Anyone else on the roster bubble, no doubt they feel the pressure now.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

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