Dolphins cut Ahmed, make eight roster moves. And Campbell on ‘sweet spot’ for snaps

A six-pack of Dolphins notes on a Monday:

▪ The Dolphins released veteran running back Salvon Ahmed in the most notable of eight roster moves announced Monday afternoon.

They also placed offensive lineman Sean Harlow and receiver Willie Snead IV on the reserve/injured list, meaning they won’t play for the Dolphins this season. And the Dolphins released linebacker Ezekiel Vandenburgh with an injury designation.

The Dolphins also signed four players who figure to play in Friday’s preseason finale at Tampa Bay but face longer odds to make the team: running backs Zander Horvath and Anthony McFarland Jr., receiver Jadon Janke and linebacker Dequan Jackson.

McFarland and Horvath were needed because Miami is short-handed at running back, with Ahmed released, Chris Brooks in concussion protocol and Jeff Wilson Jr. sidelined the past 10 days with an injury to his nose.

McFarland had 42 carries for 146 yards (3.5 per carry) in 17 games through four seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers, from 2020 to 2023. The 5-8, 193-pound McFarland was a Steelers’ fourth round pick out of Maryland in 2020.

Horvath, who is 6-3 and 230 pounds, appeared in 15 games and started two for the Chargers in 2022. He ran four times for 8 yards and caught five passes for eight yards, including two touchdowns, for the Chargers, who drafted him in the seventh round in 2022. He spent the 2024 offseason program and part of training camp with the Saints.

Janke, who is 6-3 and 210 pounds, signed with Houston as an undrafted free agent in May but was recently released. He caught 170 passes for 2,786 yards and three touchdowns in four seasons at South Dakota State.

Jackson, undrafted out of Colorado State in 2023, spent last season on the Jaguars’ practice squad but was released earlier this summer. The 6-1, 255-pound linebacker had 307 tackles and 27 tackles for loss in five years at Colorado State.

Ahmed spent four years with the Dolphins, appearing in 38 games and starting four. He sustained a season-ending foot injury last November and missed most practices over the past three weeks because of a foot issue. He didn’t play in either preseason game.

He closed his Dolphins career with 163 carries for 593 yards and five touchdowns, along with 40 receptions for 274 yards (6.9 average) and one touchdown.

Harlow, a guard and center, had some good moments during practice the past two weeks but was injured during Saturday’s preseason game against Washington. It’s unclear when Snead was injured, but he had a handful of drops in practice after signing with Miami earlier in August.

Vandenburgh, who missed last season with a knee injury after joining Miami as an undrafted rookie, played well early in camp but was injured during Saturday’s second preseason game.

▪ Defensive lineman Calais Campbell remains in immaculate condition at 37. But now that he’s playing home games in the South Florida heat — as opposed to Atlanta’s dome last season — what’s the right amount to play him at a particularly grueling position?

“Thirty-five to 40 plays a game is the sweet spot,” Campbell said Monday. ”That’s where I feel I can still be a productive player… .In critical moments, I want to be out there and try to help win a ball game.”

Last year with the Falcons, Campbell started all 17 games and averaged 42 defensive snaps per game. If he averages 38 snaps per game in 2024, that would be 646 for the season.

Campbell’s 712 defensive snaps last season ranked 27th among interior defenders and 42nd among edge players. He also played 140 snaps on special teams.

“Usually I have to fight for extra reps,” Campbell said, noting his coaches would say they want him “fresh in the fourth quarter and hopefully going to the playoffs.”

But as Campbell said, “Trust me, I know my body. I’ll let you know.”

Christian Wilkins, the player that Campbell is essentially replacing, played 894 snaps, or 52.5 per game for the Dolphins last season. Wilkins signed with Las Vegas in March.

The Wilkins snaps that aren’t filled by Campbell could be filled by Da’Shawn Hand, Neville Gallimore, Jonathan Harris or a linebacker.

Campbell expects to play inside a lot, lining up against a guard.

“In this defense, I’ll be more over guards over the course of the whole game,” Campbell said. “There will be packages where I’ll be set on the tackle.”

▪ Tight end Durham Smythe takes pride in being the longest-tenured Dolphin (with Jason Sanders). Both are entering their seventh season with the team.

So what’s the key to sticking around that long if you’re not a Pro Bowler?

“When I think about it, it’s being consistent every day,” Smythe said. “Not being someone who gets too high or too low. Day to day you know what you’re going to get.

“And being able to adapt. It’s a new team every year. I’ve had a bunch of different roles the last seven years. Taking the role they give you and try to be the best that you can. If you are consistent and adapt to whatever role you get, you have a chance to stick around.”

▪ Pro Football Focus’ five highest-graded Dolphins on offense against Washington, in order, and their snap counts: receiver River Cracraft (11 snaps, before leaving with a shoulder injury); quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (11); running back De’Von Achane (13); tackle Kendall Lamm (11) and tight end Jonnu Smith (13).

PFF’s five highest-graded Dolphins on defense against Washington: cornerback Storm Duck (38), linebacker David Anenih (28), safety Jordan Colbert (23), cornerback Siran Neal (18) and cornerback Jason Maitre (48).

▪ Per PFF’s pass metrics numbers, Washington quarterbacks were 0 for 4 targeting Duck, 6 for 6 against Maitre (but for only 22 yards), 4 for 6 against now-injured Cam Smith (for 35 yards), 5 for 5 against Kader Kohou (for 37 yards), 1 for 1 against Kendall Fuller (for 7 yards) and 1 for 1 against Nik Needham (for 7 yards).

▪ Mo Kamara, Channing Tindall and Curtis Bolton got the best run defense grades Saturday from PFF; Chop Robinson, Jonathan Harris and Jordyn Brooks got the worst…. Per PFF, left tackle Patrick Paul and center Andrew Meyer allowed Washington’s only two sacks.