Dolphins claim ex-Jet QB Petty off waivers
DAVIE — The Miami Dolphins claimed quarterback Bryce Petty off waivers Friday, making him the fourth quarterback on the team’s 90-man roster.
Petty, a former Baylor standout the New York Jets selected in the fourth round of the 2015 draft, was released by the New York Jets on Thursday.
Petty became expendable when the Jets selected USC’s Sam Darnold with the No. 3 pick in last month’s NFL draft and added him to a roster that already included fellow quarterbacks Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater and Christian Hackenberg.
Petty joins a Dolphins quarterback group that includes starter Ryan Tannehill, who has missed the past 20 games because of a left knee injury, and backups Brock Osweiler and David Fales. Osweiler spent his first three seasons playing under Dolphins head coach Adam Gase in Denver. Fales, a journeyman, spent most of last season on Miami’s 53-man roster.
Miami released quarterback Brandon Doughty, a 2016 seventh-round pick, in April. Doughty was claimed by the Arizona Cardinals.
The Dolphins declined to select a quarterback in draft, and the only addition at quarterback made to the team was the signing of Osweiler, who has started 25 games with the Broncos and Houston Texans over the past three seasons.
Petty, 26, has seven career starts and a 1-6 record in those games. For his career, he’s completed 130-of-235 passes (53.1 percent), throwing for 1,353 yards, with four touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has a 57.7 career passer rating.
Last season, Petty was 55 of 112 (49.1 percent) for 544 yards, throwing for one touchdown and three interceptions. He had a 55.1 passer rating.
Petty becomes the second veteran the Dolphins have added this week, joining defensive tackle Akeem Spence, who Miami traded a conditional 2019 seventhround pick to the Detroit Lions to acquire on Thursday.
The Dolphins are hosting another veteran defensive tackle on a free-agent visit despite Thursday’s trade that delivered Spence.
According to a league source, who was released by the Washington Redskins this week one season after signing a four-year $21 million deal, is visiting the Dolphins this weekend.
McClain, a University of South Florida product who contributed 20 tackles and two sacks as a rotational player in Washington, is searching for a new home for his eighth season.
McClain, who has recorded 110 tackles, 6.5 sacks and forced three fumbles throughout his career, has moved around a lot during his NFL career, playing for five different teams. He spent three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before joining Washington, and has started 29 games during his career.
His signing would help the Dolphins address one of the team’s thinnest units.
Jordan Phillips and two second-year players, Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor, were the only experienced contributors before Miami acquired Spence.
Spence, who had 41 starts in 72 games with Detroit (2017) and Tampa Bay (2013-16), is viewed as a runstopping specialist who will likely compete with Phillips for the starting role next to Godchaux in Miami’s 4-3 scheme.