10 Players to Watch in Second Dolphins Preseason Game

The Miami Dolphins will be back in action when they take on the New York Giants at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and it will provide another opportunity to evaluate those players fighting for roster spots.

At this stage of the summer, GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley probably have a good idea what the bulk of the Dolphins' 53-man roster will look like, but they certainly could be swayed by strong individual performances here and there.

After the front-line players got a lot of work during the joint practice Thursday, we'd expect backups and younger players will be at the forefront for the second of the preseason games, along with some veterans who maybe have yet to cement their roster spot.

With that in mind, here is our list of 10 players to watch in this second preseason game, which kicks off at 4 p.m. ET.

DOLPHINS OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB CAM MILLER

Is it possible that Miller could play his way onto the 53-man roster? That remains to be determined, but the fact remains that he has looked much better in the last several days than earlier in camp, and Quinn Ewers' struggles and current groin injury maybe have opened the door for him. This is a huge game for him.

WR JALEN TOLBERT

Tolbert and Tutu Atwell were the two veteran wide receivers of note the Dolphins added in the offseason, but neither has distinguished himself this summer to the point where their roster spot should be considered secure.

TE SEYDOU TRAORE

All rookie draft picks, regardless of what coaches might say, get a bit more leeway than other players during training camp and at roster cut time, but it doesn't mean their spot is guaranteed. And the reality is that Traore has dropped a few passes this summer and shouldn't be considered a lock to make the roster. A strong performance against the Giants could change that.

G D.J. CAMPBELL

Likewise, Campbell needs to string together some good performance to make the roster as a sixth-round pick and he should get an elevated role after fellow guard James Ester was waived-injured Thursday.

FB D.J. HERMAN

Herman is a rookie like Traore and Campbell, but he was undrafted, which shouldn't get him the benefit of the doubt. Yet Herman has played himself into a position where the Dolphins coaches are going to be thinking hard about whether they should keep him as the lone fullback on the roster (instead of going the H-back route when they want to use two backs in the backfield).

DOLPHINS DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH

DT FATORMA MULBAH

Mulbah hasn't been around very long, but he's certainly looked the part, both in the preseason game against Washington and in practice. There sure does appear to be something to work with when it comes to the former Jets player.

EDGE MAX LLEWELLYN

The seventh-round pick from Iowa really has come on of late and he has played himself clearly into the picture at the fairly thin edge position. Another solid outing against the Giants could help put him over the top.

S MAJOR BURNS

The former UFL interception leader is trying to make his way in a safety room that's lacking proven commodities and now also might include rookie fourth-round pick Kyle Louis after he got work at that position all week.

S LOUIS MOORE

See Burns. The same comments would apply, except that Moore led major college football in interceptions last year, not the UFL. But his situation is almost identical to that of Burns.

DT KEITH COOPER JR.

It's going to be awfully difficult for any young defensive tackle to make the Dolphins 53-man roster when the team already has three second-year players who all were draft picks — Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phililps, Zeek Biggers — particularly considering Matthew Butler's strong training camp showing. But Cooper at the very least deserves a spot on the practice squad based on what he's shown so far and maybe he won't be cuttable if he shines against the Giants.