Dolphins sign 2 linebackers, place 2 linebackers on IR

The Dolphins were forced to make some roster moves after a pair of linebackers were moved to injured reserve.

The 2024 season may be over for linebackers Grayson Murphy and Cam Brown after both landed on the Miami Dolphins’ injured reserve Monday morning. The team subsequently signed linebackers Wyatt Ray and David Anenih to fill their spots on the roster.

Murphy, an undrafted rookie, made a strong impression in the Dolphins’ preseason debut before exiting with a knee injury.

Brown, a special teamer who spent the first four seasons of his career with the New York Giants, joined the Dolphins earlier this year. His injury is unknown for now.

Previously, players who landed on injured reserve prior to the 53-man roster cut down were officially lost for the year. A rule change has allowed teams to designate two players at the end of preseason for an eventual return. Murphy and Brown join seventh-round rookie Tahj Washington on the Dolphins’ injured reserve.

Ray has spent time with eight different NFL teams, but most recently recorded 5.5 sacks with the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL earlier this year. Anenih has spent time with four teams, but has never appeared in a regular season game.

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Dolphins sign ex-Giants linebacker Cam Brown

The Miami Dolphins have signed former New York Giants linebacker and special teams ace, Cam Brown.

The Miami Dolphins have officially announced the signing of former New York Giants linebacker Cam Brown.

Brown, 26, was a sixth-round pick of the Giants in the 2020 NFL draft out of Penn State. He appeared in 60 games for the team, recording 35 tackles (24 solo), three QB hits and two forced fumbles.

Much of Brown’s production came on special teams, consistently drawing praise from the coaching staff. However, after the firing of special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey on Black Monday, Brown knew his time in East Rutherford was up.

In 2023, Brown earned a special teams grade of 65.3 courtesy of Pro Football Focus, finishing second on the team with five tackles (Carter Coughlin, 9). In 2022, he was fourth on the team with an ST grade of 71.5.

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Dolphins sign former Giants special teamer Cam Brown

The Dolphins added a special teams ace to their roster by signing Cam Brown.

Former New York Giants special teamer Cam Brown is the newest member of the Miami Dolphins, the team announced Wednesday.

Brown, 26, was a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft and saw limited snaps at linebacker early in his career before settling into a full-time role on special teams. Last season, he appeared on 367 special teams snaps and zero defensive snaps with the Giants.

In four seasons with the Giants, Brown recorded 35 tackles and two forced fumbles, including one in Week 12 of the 2023 season:

With new kickoff rules set to debut in the 2024 season, the Dolphins have added a couple players who could help on special teams, including former Bills defensive back Siran Neal. Miami also brought back Elijah Campbell and Braxton Berrios.

The Dolphins allowed 12.2 yards per punt return in 2023, fifth most in the NFL, and 30.5 yards per kick return, the most in the NFL. Miami allowed a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Denver Broncos and a 96-yard punt return touchdown against the Buffalo Bills.

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8 pending free agents the Giants should not re-sign

The New York Giants will have 30 free agents to deal with come March and at least eight of them should be allowed to walk.

The New York Giants have a lot of decisions and work to do this offseason after a disappointing 6-11 season.

They have a slew of players headed for free agency and will have to make decisions on whether to bring them back next season.

Here’s a quick list of players they should let walk.

Carter Coughlin, Cam Brown say they will not return to Giants

Cam Brown and Carter Coughlin said their goodbyes on Monday, indicating they will not be returning to the New York Giants in 2024.

As the New York Giants begin their end-of-season housecleaning, there are some subtle losses they will incur, ones that fans will have to admit will hurt the team going forward.

With the firing of special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey and the resignation of defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, two key defensive reserves/special team aces will be parting ways with Big Blue as well.

Carter Coughlin and Cam Brown both posted farewells on their social media accounts on Monday after their exit interviews with management.

Coughlin and Brown were the Giants’ most reliable and productive special teamers.

The Giants will have a lot of work to do this offseason.

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NFL slaps Giants’ Xavier McKinney, Carter Coughlin with fines

The NFL has hit New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney and linebacker Carter Coughlin with fines stemming from their Week 12 game.

The New York Giants upset the New England Patriots, 10-7, in Week 12 and then immediately headed into their bye week. But when they return on Monday, two players will have envelopes from the league waiting for them.

Safety Xavier McKinney was fined $13,659 for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty committed with just seconds remaining in the game.

For McKinney, this is his second (known) fine of the season. He was also docked $14,833 for a late hit on Terry McLaurin back in Week 7.

In addition to McKinney, linebacker Carter Coughlin was fined $5,764 for unnecessary roughness in the second quarter. He was not penalized on the play, so his fine will likely be appealed.

Apparently, in the mind of league officials, Coughlin is just supposed to let the return man run right by him as opposed to making the tackle. Or something.

Meanwhile, linebacker Cam Brown was not fined for a big special teams hit on wide receiver Pop Douglas. The Patriots were furious over the play and Douglas ended up in concussion protocol.

“The refs need to do something about that because that’s some (expletive). They need to either throw a flag or something,” Patriots wide receiver DeVante Parker said after the game. “This ain’t no (expletive) wrestling.”

“To me, that’s a joke. You can’t say you care about player safety and not flag that play,” Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers added.

The Patriots did not receive any fines from the league.

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Giants injury report: Andrew Thomas, Azeez Ojulari limited

New York Giants LT Andrew Thomas and LB Azeez Ojulari were limited on Thursday and their status for Sunday’s game is up in the air.

The New York Giants returned to the practice field on Thursday following a scary scene the day prior. Practice squad cornerback Amani Oruwariye was injured on a kickoff drill and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

Thankfully, Oruwariye was back at team facilities for the team’s second practice of the week and had full function in his extremities.

Meanwhile, left tackle Andrew Thomas and right end Darren Waller each returned to practice.

The Giants’ Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: WR Sterling Shepard (rest)

Limited participant: OL Andrew Thomas (hamstring), K Graham Gano (ankle), WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), CB Deonte Banks (calf), LB Cam Brown (ankle), CB Cor’Dale Flott (hamstring), LB Azeez Ojulari (hamstring), S Gervarrius Owens (hamstring), OL Matt Peart (elbow), TE Darren Waller (hamstring/rest)

Full participant: N/A

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Giants’ Darren Waller questionable vs. Cowboys

New York Giants TE Darren Waller was added to the injury report on Friday and is questionable against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1.

The New York Giants will open their 2023 regular season on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium and will be relatively healthy when they do.

Everyone on the 53-man roster practiced on at least a limited basis this week including wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who is returning from a torn ACL.

“Same. Everybody’s going, and then we’ll talk about (game designations) tonight,” head coach Brian Daboll told reporters on Friday. “I think everybody’s going to be out here today and then we’ll sit here and talk about it tonight.”

There was, however, an unexpected development during practice as tight end Darren Waller was added to the injury report with a hamstring issue. He was limited on Friday.

Meanwhile, down in Arlington, the Cowboys were dealing with their own headaches as two starting offensive linemen — Tyron Smith and Tyler Smith — had injuries pop up this week.

Full injury reports for both the Giants and Cowboys can be found below:

Giants injury report: Cor’Dale Flott, Wan’Dale Robinson remain limited

The New York Giants were off on Thursday but released a projected injury report that didn’t change from the day prior.

The New York Giants gave the players a day off on Thursday which meant there was no practice. And while some players were at the facility, there was no on-field activity.

Accordingly, the Giants were forced to project their second injury report of the week and as a result, there were no official changes to a player’s status.

Cornerback Cor’Dale Flott and wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson remain “limited.” Their status for Sunday night is 50-50.

The Giants’ (projected) Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: N/A

Limited participant: CB Cor’Dale Flott (hamstring), S Gervarrius Owens (hamstring), WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), RB Gary Brightwell (knee), LB Cam Brown (ankle), TE Lawrence Cager (ankle), DT D.J. Davidson (knee)

Full participant: N/A

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Giants injury report: Wan’Dale Robinson, 6 others limited

The New York Giants had the entire team available for practice on Wednesday but seven players, including WR Wan’Dale Robinson, were limited.

The New York Giants took the field for their first (open) practice of the 2023 regular season on Wednesday, which also gave way to their first official injury report and a few updates from head coach Brian Daboll.

The good news? Despite being a little banged up at the conclusion of training camp, every single member of the team’s 53-man roster practiced in at least a limited capacity.

“It’s good to have them all out here,” Daboll told reporters.

Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who was activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on cutdown day, continued to progress toward a return. He was limited on Wednesday alongside six others.

The Giants’ Wednesday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: N/A

Limited participant: CB Cor’Dale Flott (hamstring), S Gervarrius Owens (hamstring), WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), RB Gary Brightwell (knee), LB Cam Brown (ankle), TE Lawrence Cager (ankle), DT D.J. Davidson (knee)

Full participant: N/A

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