On Sunday morning, the Miami Dolphins announced the release of tight end Jody Fortson. This decision came shortly after the team also cut ties with quarterback Mike White. Fortson, previously with the Kansas City Chiefs, did not meet expectations during preseason and training camp performances, as confirmed by a league source.
The struggle for Fortson began earlier in training camp when teammates Tanner Conner and undrafted rookie Hayden Rucci started taking more significant roles in the offense. Notably, Rucci scored a touchdown in Friday’s game against Tampa Bay, thrown by backup quarterback Skylar Thompson.
During the preseason, both Conner and Rucci received more playtime than Fortson until Conner sustained an injury in a game against the Atlanta Falcons. Fortson’s subsequent performance while substituting for Conner was underwhelming; he incurred penalties twice and dropped a pass in the Friday game against Tampa Bay.
With the impending roster cuts deadline on Tuesday at 4:00 PM EDT, the Dolphins need to finalize their tight end roster, which might include keeping either three or four players for that position. Durham Smythe, Jonnu Smith, and Julian Hill seem to have secured the first three slots. Last year, the Dolphins entered the season with only two tight ends, suggesting a fourth spot might not be guaranteed.
If Miami does opt for a fourth tight end, Conner and Rucci are both contenders, but they may also face waivers with the possibility of joining the practice squad. Similarly, Fortson, who spent the 2023 season on Kansas City’s practice squad and earned a Super Bowl ring, could also return to the practice squad should he clear waivers.
