Miami Dolphins make an eye-opening roster move

The Miami Dolphins made another waiver claim on Wednesday, but it was the corresponding move that really turned heads here.

To make room for new tight end Jack Stoll, the Dolphins waived linebacker David Long Jr., who went from starter and team captain to being demoted to special teams and waived within a few weeks.

Long didn’t make a single defensive error in the team’s last two games, against the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams, after playing every second of the first seven games when healthy.

Long was replaced in the starting lineup by veteran offseason acquisition Anthony Walker Jr., who had an interception in Monday night’s win against the Los Angeles Rams. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said the move was made because Walker deserved more playing time and Long was “leaving plays on the field.”

This move to waive Long comes a day later the Dolphins claimed linebacker Tyrel Dodson off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks.

To make room for Dodson on Tuesday, the Dolphins drafted Tanner Conner tight end, so Stoll essentially replaces him on the 53-man roster.

Stoll comes to the Dolphins after playing 57 games with 28 starts in four seasons with the Eagles. Stoll, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Nebraska, has 22 career catches for 193 yards.

After going undrafted as a restricted free agent this offseason, Stoll signed with the New York Giants, but they waived him as part of their move to the 53-player limit. He then signed with the Eagles practice squad before being signed to the active roster in late September.

Like Conner, Stoll has extensive experience on special teams; he has played at least 45 percent of his team’s special teams snaps over the past four seasons.

Here’s a scouting report from Stoll, courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles. On SI reporter Ed Kracz: “Great guy. Stoll will do whatever is asked of him and that makes him very coachable. His specialty is run blocking and he is good at it for a team that likes to use 12 men. He can move the ball catch when targeted, but his route career needs work. He just got stuck in a numbers game and the Eagles needed a roster spot with Jordan Mailata coming off IR when his contract expired last season, but they could do it. can’t agree on a number.”

Stoll is under contract through the 2024 season and will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason unless he re-signs.