Dolphins release former Chiefs tight end Jody Fortson and place Anthony Schwartz on the injured list

The deadline for teams to trim their rosters down to 53 players is quickly approaching. The Miami Dolphins made two moves Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s deadline to get closer to that roster limit. First, the team released former Kansas City Chiefs tight end Jody Fortson. Fortson signed a one-year deal with the team worth just over $1 million during this year’s free agency period.

Fortson has been plagued by injuries this training camp and faced an uphill battle to make the team in a fairly crowded tight end room. Fortson’s release could bode well for a player who had a standout performance in the Dolphins’ last preseason game: rookie tight end Hayden Rucci. Rucci finished Friday night’s game against the Buccaneers with five pass catches for 44 yards and a touchdown, with fullback Alec Ingold providing live commentary during the celebration.

Rucci’s impressive play was a continuation of a training camp in which he impressed both the players around him and the coaching staff. He himself faces an uphill battle to make the team, with Jonnu Smith and Durham Smythe considered surefire candidates for the roster and potentially only one – possibly two – spots left between Rucci, Tanner Conner and Julian Hill.

The other move was placing wide receiver Anthony Schwartz on the injured list with a torn ligament in his left knee, ending his season before it began. The move frees up a spot in the Dolphins’ wide receiver room and should virtually guarantee that rookie Malik Washington will make the team.

Washington made a strong case for immediate inclusion in the preseason game against the Bucs, even without Schwartz’s injury. Washington was a key factor in the Dolphins’ return game, making electrifying plays on both punt and kick returns. Now that a roster spot has opened up, Washington should have a spot on the team and will likely see a lot of special teams action as he tries to carve out a role for himself on offense.

In addition to those two moves, the Dolphins also announced Sunday that they have released backup quarterback Mike White, virtually ensuring that Skylar Thompson will join the team as the primary backup to starter Tua Tagovailoa.