The same day that the New York Jets made a mega trade with Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams, the Dolphins made a couple of moves on the list, though not nearly of the same magnitude.
But one of the moves indirectly was very significant as it related to first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa.
That move was the launch of quarterback Jake Rudock.
What does that have to do with Tagovailoa? Well, with Rudock now missing, the Dolphins are left with three quarterbacks on their roster: Tagovailoa, veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Josh Rosen.
The move involving Rudock is a clear sign that the Dolphins believe Tagovailoa will be ready to practice because there is no way they have been left with just two healthy quarterbacks.
Of course, there’s always a chance that the Dolphins will sign a different quarterback before starting practice in mid-August, but they’re much more likely to be comfortable with Tua’s health.
The other move on Saturday was the launch of wide receiver Ricardo Louis.
A Miami Beach High product, Louis has NFL experience with 45 catches in two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, but was trying to come back from a knee injury that had him on the IR all last season.
The Dolphins also have a lot of depth at wide receiver, so their chances of being on the roster weren’t great from the start.
As for Rudock, he spent the entire past season on the Dolphins’ practice team.
The moves left the Dolphins with 84 players on their roster, including top Brazilian Durval Queiroz Neto, who doesn’t count against the roster limit.
Each NFL team will have the option to start camp with a limit of 80 or 90 players. Those who choose the 90 player limit will have to work in two groups, with rookies and sophomores in one group and veterans in the other.
