Undrafted rookie Lima waived before camp
The Miami Dolphins began to trim their roster Thursday to the allotted number of players allowed for training camp later this month.
The team waived undrafted rookie defensive tackle Ray Lima, a former Iowa State standout who signed with Miami shortly after the 2020 NFL draft. Lima was not among Dolphins rookies, quarterbacks and other injured players who reported to the team’s Davie practice facility to undergo COVID-19 testing Thursday.
The Dolphins roster now stands at 86 players, with at least five more players expected to be cut.
With Brazilian lineman Durval Queiroz Neto granted a roster exemption for the second straight year as part of the NFL’s international program, the Dolphins will be able to carry 81 players instead of the 80 mandated by the league’s new coronavirus regulations. Typically, NFL teams carry 90 players into training camp.
Lima started in 33 of the 38 games he played at Iowa State from 2017-19. He was named first-team All-Big 12 as a junior in 2018 and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors last season.
The Dolphins will likely enter training camp with 2019 first-round pick Christian Wilkins, 2017 fifthround pick Davon Godchaux, rookie second-round pick Raekwon Davis and third-year veteran Zach Sieler at the defensive tackle position. Miami could play fifth-round draft picks Jason Strowbridge, a former Deerfield Beach High standout who played at North Carolina, and Curtis
Weaver, a Boise State standout, as interior defensive linemen although both are listed on the team’s roster as defensive ends.
The Dolphins also have undrafted rookie defensive tackle Benito Jones, a former Ole Miss standout, on the roster heading into camp.
Dolphins players and personnel are being tested for COVID-19 in a trailer outside of the team’s Davie practice facility and sent home to await results. A person must test negative twice before being permitted to enter the building.
The earliest Dolphins rookies, quarterbacks and injured players can enter the practice facility after two negative COVID-19 tests is Monday.
Other veterans are scheduled to report July 28. The earliest they can enter is Aug. 1.