Dolphins Notebook: 8 players named to practice squad

The Miami Dolphins continued to make changes to their roster, including creating a practice squad and claiming four players off waivers.

By Dave Carey

Sep 3, 2012 at 4:01 pm ET • 1 min read

First-year coach Joe Philbin continues to shape his roster. (AP Images)

The Miami Dolphins assembled their eight-man practice squad just days after putting the finishing touches on their 53-man roster.

Miami signed G Chandler Burden (rookie, undrafted, Kentucky), LB Jonathan Freeny (2nd year, Rutgers), WR Jeff Fuller (rookie, undrafted, Texas A&M), WR Chris Hogan (undrafted, rookie, Monmouth), LB Josh Kaddu (rookie, fifth-round, Oregon), OTAndrew McDonald (rookie, undrafted, Indiana), CB De’Andre Presley (rookie, undrafted, Appalachian State) and DB Russell Anderson (third year, undrafted, Ohio State) to the practice squad.

The practice squad consists of players who have three or fewer years in the league. They are not part of the active roster.

Coming and going: Miami made several changes to its initial 53-man roster this weekend.

The team won waiver claims for WR Anthony Armstrong, LB Sammy Brown, DB Troy Nolan and CB R.J. Stanford. To make room for these players, the team cut RB Steve Slaton and DB Tyrone Culver. It also released Freeny and Kaddu, but they were later added to the practice squad.

“I think you can (find difference makers on the waiver wire),” Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said. “I think it’s unrealistic that you can hit on them all. Let’s say we claim four guys, I’m just saying, are you going to hit four-for-four? Probably not, you’re not going to do it.”

Practice power: Brian Hartline is finally back at practice.

The receiver missed all of OTAs, minicamp and the preseason with myriad ailments, but returned to practice this weekend as he tries to get up to speed in offensive coordinator Mike Sherman’s new attack. Hartline, who most recently has been hobbled with a calf injury, made 35 catches for 549 yards with a touchdown last season.

“I liked the way he competed for the ball,” Philbin said. “Thought he played fast, decisively and caught the ball well. Once again, we want to get him as familiar as we can with our concepts pass-game wise, which he’s obviously a little bit behind from a reps standpoint. I don’t think a learning part will be an issue.”

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