Miami Dolphins make roster moves
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins announced they have signed quarterback Jake Rudock. The team also placed quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick on the reserve/COVID-19 list*, placed linebacker Elandon Roberts on injured reserve and activated wide receiver Kirk Merritt as a COVID-19 replacement for Sunday’s game.
Rudock has spent multiple stints on Miami’s practice squad after joining the team on Jan. 12, 2019. He has played in three NFL games, all with Detroit during the 2017 season. Rudock originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick (191st overall) by Detroit in the 2016 NFL draft. A Weston, Fla. native, Rudock attended St. Thomas Aquinas and played collegiately at Iowa (2011-14) and Michigan (2015).
Fitzpatrick joined the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent on March 18, 2019. Over the past two seasons, Fitzpatrick has completed 494-of-769 passes (64.2 pct.) for 5,620 yards and 33 touchdowns for a passer rating of 89.0 with the Dolphins. Fitzpatrick has totaled 34,977 passing yards and 223 passing touchdowns in his career. He originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick (250th overall) by St. Louis in the 2005 NFL draft.
Roberts has played in 13 games with 11 starts this season after joining the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent from New England on March 21, 2020. He’s totaled 61 tackles (33 solo), 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery this season. Roberts also played four seasons (2016-19) with the New England Patriots, winning a pair of Super Bowls (LI and LIII). He originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick (214th overall) by New England in the 2016 NFL draft.
Merritt made his NFL debut on Nov. 8, 2020 at Arizona but did not record any statistics. He has spent the rest of the season on Miami’s practice squad after originally entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Dolphins on April 29, 2020. Merritt earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors as a junior (2018) and senior (2019) at Arkansas State and led the conference in receptions (83) and receiving yards (1,005) in 2018.
*This new reserve list category was created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons. If a player falls into either of these categories, their club is required to immediately place the player on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Per agreed upon NFL-NFLPA policy, clubs are not permitted to comment on a player’s medical status other than referring to roster status. Clubs may not disclose whether a player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19.
| No. | Name | Pos. | Hgt. | Wgt. | Birthdate | Exp. | College | Hometown | Acq. |
| 5 | Jake Rudock | QB | 6-3 | 212 | 1/21/93 | 4 | Michigan ’16 | Weston, Fla. | FA, ‘19 |
| 83 | Kirk Merritt | WR | 6-0 | 214 | 1/5/97 | R | Arkansas State ’20 | Destrehan, La. | FA, ‘20 |
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins announced they have promoted safety Nate Holley to the active roster and waived fullback Chandler Cox. The team also elevated wide receiver Marcus Kemp and quarterback Reid Sinnett for Sunday’s game.
Holley joined the Dolphins on Aug. 22, 2020 and has spent the entire season on Miami’s practice squad. He was previously elevated twice this season and totaled two special teams tackles (one solo). Holley played in 18 games in 2018 for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League and was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie after totaling 78 defensive tackles, 22 special teams tackles, one sack and one interception. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with the L.A. Rams on June 8, 2018.
Cox played in 21 career games with six starts for the Dolphins, totaling two receptions for nine yards (4.5 avg.). He appeared in eight games with three starts this season and was inactive for seven contests. Cox originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick (233rd overall) by the Dolphins in the 2019 NFL draft.
Kemp was signed to Miami’s practice squad on Dec. 22, 2020 after spending the rest of his career in Kansas City (2017-20). He appeared in 27 games for the Chiefs, including 10 in 2020, and totaled two receptions for 18 yards (9.0 avg.) and nine special teams tackles (seven solo). He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with Kansas City on May 8, 2017.
Sinnett was signed to Miami’s practice squad on Sept. 14, 2020. He was previously elevated for one game and dressed but did not play. Sinnett spent the offseason and training camp with Tampa Bay before he was waived on Sept. 8, 2020. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with Tampa Bay on May 4, 2020. Sinnett threw for 3,528 yards as a senior in 2019 at San Diego, which was the second-most in a single season in team history.
| No. | Name | Pos. | Hgt. | Wgt. | Birthdate | Exp. | College | Hometown | Acq. |
| 16 | Marcus Kemp | WR | 6-4 | 210 | 8/14/95 | 3 | Hawaii ’17 | Layton, Utah | FA, ’20 |
| 17 | Reid Sinnett | QB | 6-4 | 225 | 2/5/97 | R | San Diego ’20 | Johnston, Iowa | FA, ‘20 |
| 36 | Nate Holley | S | 6-0 | 210 | 12/5/94 | 1 | Kent State ’17 | Toledo, Ohio | FA, ‘20 |
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins announced they have promoted wide receiver Isaiah Ford to the active roster.
Ford has played in 18 games in his NFL career, all with Miami (2018-20). He’s totaled 48 receptions for 483 yards (10.1 avg.) and has one carry for 11 yards. Ford was traded by Miami to New England on Nov. 3, 2020 before the Patriots waived him on Dec. 5, 2020. He signed with the Dolphins’ practice squad on Dec. 14, 2020 and played the past two games after being elevated to the active roster. Ford originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick (237th overall) by Miami in the 2017 NFL draft.
| No. | Name | Pos. | Hgt. | Wgt. | Birthdate | Exp. | College | Hometown | Acq. |
| 84 | Isaiah Ford | WR | 6-2 | 201 | 2/9/96 | 3 | Virginia Tech ’17 | Jacksonville, Fla. | FA, ‘20 |
JAGUARS CLAIM OFFENSIVE LINEMAN DERWIN GRAY OFF WAIVERS
JACKSONVILLE – The Jaguars have claimed OL Derwin Gray via waivers from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced. Gray will remain on the club’s Exempt/Commissioner Permission list as he goes through COVID-19 testing and screening protocols.
Gray was drafted by the Steelers in the seventh round (219th overall) of the 2019 draft and spent his rookie season on Pittsburgh’s practice squad. After beginning the 2020 season on the Steelers practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster on Sept. 18, 2020 and has appeared in five games this year.
Gray attended Maryland and appeared in 35 games, making 25 starts. As a senior in 2018, he started 10 games at left tackle.
JAGUARS RESTORE WR TERRY GODWIN TO PRACTICE SQUAD
JACKSONVILLE – The Jaguars have restored WR Terry Godwin to the practice squad from the practice squad/COVID-19 list, the club announced.
JAGUARS MAKE ROSTER MOVES
JACKSONVILLE – The Jaguars have made the following roster moves, the team announced:
- WR Terry Godwin has been signed to the 53-man active roster from the practice squad.
- OL Tre’vour Wallace-Simms (pronounced TREY-vore) has been elevated to the active/inactive list for tomorrow’s game via standard practice squad elevation.
- WR Collin Johnson has been placed on injured reserve.
- See attached for biographies for Godwin, Wallace-Simms and P Logan Cooke, who was activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Dec. 31.
LIONS RELEASE S JAYRON KEARSE
| Allen Park, Mich.— The Detroit Lions announced that they have released S Jayron Kearse. |
| LIONS SIGN FREE AGENT DB JOSH HAWKINS TO PRACTICE SQUAD Detroit places CB Alex Myres on Practice Squad/Injured Reserve Allen Park, Mich.— The Detroit Lions announced that they have signed free agent DB Josh Hawkins to the practice squad and placed CB Alex Myres on Practice Squad/Injured Reserve. |
| LIONS ANNOUNCE ROSTER MOVES Allen Park, Mich.— The Detroit Lions announced the following roster moves: SIGNED THE FOLLOWING PLAYER TO THE ACTIVE ROSTER FROM THE PRACTICE SQUAD S Bobby Price ACTIVATED THE FOLLOWING PLAYER FROM RESERVE/INJURED; DESIGNATED FOR RETURN DT Danny Shelton ELEVATED THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS FROM THE PRACTICE SQUAD TO THE ACTIVE/INACTIVE LIST PURSUANT TO THE STANDARD ELEVATION ADDENDUM DT Albert Huggins C Evan Brown RELEASED THE FOLLOWING PLAYER DL Frank Herron RESTORED THE FOLLOWING PLAYER TO THE PRACTICE SQUAD FROM THE PS/COVID-19 LIST LB Anthony Pittman |
