Rivers added to secondary ahead of camp

For the second straight day, the Miami Dolphins signed a cornerback who had previously spent a short stint with the team before the start of training camp for the 2019 season.

The Dolphins signed second-year cornerback David Rivers on Tuesday, giving another opportunity to a Miami native who was on their practice squad during the 2017 season. Rivers will join former cornerback Tyand/or ler Patmon, who appeared in two games at the end of the 2015 season, as the newest members of the Dolphins secondary.

The Dolphins’ training camp begins Thursday, now with 16 of 17 presumably healthy defensive backs.

While it is normal for NFL teams to sign players before the start of training camp to bolster their roster, Miami’s signing of two former players could indicate some concern with depth injuries at the position before the preseason.

The Dolphins remain steadfast in hopes of identifying a second starting-caliber cornerback to play opposite Pro Bowl standout Xavien Howard, while using their depth at safety to their advantage at other positions in the secondary.

Bobby McCain, who has played cornerback and as a nickel defensive back, could see himself playing at free safety behind veterans Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald, who may play closer to the line of scrimmage this season.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Dolphins’ first-round pick in 2018, will likely play as a nickel defensive back, though he could also get some playing time at cornerback.

Rivers and Patmon could likely complete for playing time in the secondary, where Eric Rowe, Jomal Wiltz, Torry McTyer and Cornell Armstrong will also compete for playing time at cornerback. Safeties Maurice Smith and Walt Aikens, nickel defensive backs Jalen Davis and Chris Lammons, rookie cornerback Nik Needham and rookie safety Montre Hartage round out Miami’s secondary.

As far as injuries are concerned before training camp begins, the Dolphins placed 2017 third-round pick Cordrea Tankersley on the physically-unable-toperform list earlier this week. He is still rehabbing a season-ending knee injury he suffered in November.

Rivers, who attended American High School in Hialeah and went undrafted out of Youngstown State, has spent time with the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his first two NFL seasons.

To make room for Rivers on the roster, the Dolphins waived rookie offensive lineman Ryan Anderson, who signed with the team after going undrafted out of Wake Forest in May.