Timmons released, Thomas to be cut

The Miami Dolphins released linebacker Lawrence Timmons on Monday, making a move that has been expected all offseason.

According to a league source, Miami is also expected to release tight end Julius Thomas before Wednesday’s 4 p.m. start of free agency.

Cutting Timmons and Thomas, two underperforming veterans added to the team last year, will clear nearly $12.1 million in cap space.

Factoring in defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh’s impending release, which will clear another $17 million, and the pending trades that will send receiver Jarvis Landry to Cleveland and bring former Los Angeles Rams defensive end Robert Quinn to Miami, the Dolphins will have $26 million in cap space to play with when free agency’s legal tampering period opens at 4 p.m. on Monday.

Teams can make offers, and free agents can agree to contracts during the legal tampering period, but no deals can become official until Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Timmons, who had 85 tackles and three pass deflections in 14 games last season, initially had his $5,475,000 salary for 2018 guaranteed. But when the 11-year veteran skipped out on the team for the seasonopener against the Los Angeles Chargers last year and was subsequently suspended,

he voided the terms of the contract, which allowed Miami to release the former Florida State standout without penalty on Monday.

Thomas, who the Dolphins sent the Jacksonville Jaguars a 2017 seventh-round pick to acquire, struggled in Miami. Thomas, who caught 41 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns, sparingly created separation from linebackers, and was a liability as a run and pass blocker. He was scheduled to earn $6.6 million in 2018.

The Dolphins will likely add tight ends and linebackers in free agency or the 2018 NFL draft.

Miami began grooming Stephone Anthony, who the team traded a 2018 fifth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints to acquire in the weeks Timmons was suspended from the team in September, to replace him late last season. However, don’t be surprised if veteran linebackers are added during the free-agent process.

The Dolphins think highly of veteran tight ends A.J. Derby, who joined the team late last season, and MarQueis Gray, but will likely try to land a player with the potential to become a starter in free agency.

When the 11year veteran skipped out on the team for the season-opener ... he voided the terms of the contract, which allowed Miami to release the former Florida State standout without penalty.

Timmons