The Miami Dolphins signed rookie linebacker Derrick McLendon to their practice squad Tuesday, bringing the squad to its 17-player capacity.
McLendon, 23, spent the offseason with the Carolina Panthers after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL draft. The linebacker made some plays in the preseason, and was credited by PFF with four pressures and a sack in only 25 pass rushing snaps.
However, his release didn’t come as much of a surprise as the Panthers made investments at the position by signing Jadeveon Clowney, D.J. Wonnum, and K’Lavon Chaisson in free agency to join second-year players D.J. Johnson and Eku Leota.
Instead, McLendon will try to get his NFL career on track in Miami where there’s a bevy of pass rushers, but question marks heading into Week 1. Bradley Chubb is on the PUP list, Jaelan Phillips is being slowly brought back from an Achilles injury, and rookies Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara are works in progress.
Prior to his time with Carolina, McLendon played four seasons at Florida State before transferring as a graduate student to Colorado. He finished his collegiate career with 10 sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
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