The Miami Dolphins released cornerback Nick McCLoud just before the team’s Week 2 preseason contest. They have since replaced him with a new defensive back off waivers.
According to the NFL transaction wire, the Dolphins claimed cornerback Jai’Onte’ McMillan off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts.
McMillan is an undrafted free agent from the University of Minnesota. The Colts signed him in June. McMillan spent the first part of training camp with Indianapolis, where he played 18 total snaps in the team’s preseason opener.
The Colts waived McMillan to sign second-year tight end J.J. Galbreath on Friday.
Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper wrote McMillan will begin practicing with Miami on Monday with the hopes of playing in the team’s preseason finale. The Dolphins will host the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 28.
Kickoff will take place at 7 pm ET.
Dolphins Claimed CB Jai’Onte’ McMillan Off Waivers
GettyCornerback Jai’Onte’ McMillan signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in June.
There’s now a week until NFL teams have to make their final roster cuts. Any new players on rosters this week will be extreme long shots to make the team unless they are established veterans.
In the Miami’s case, though, they might have one of the weaker rosters in the league. So, perhaps McMillan has at least a puncher’s chance making the team.
Or, more than likely, Miami sees potential in the defensive back and wanted to add him this week in the hopes they can have an early jump on signing him to the practice squad.
McMillan played six college seasons from 2020-25 — four at TCU and the final two at Minnesota. He appeared in 55 games, posting 56 combined tackles, four pass defenses and one interception.
At Minnesota last season, he had 22 combined tackles with one pass defense in 11 contests.
Miami CB Depth Entering Final Week of 2026 Preseason
GettyHead coach Jeff Hafley and the Miami Dolphins claimed cornerback Jai’Onte’ McMillan off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts.
The good news for McMillan is while the Dolphins have nine cornerbacks on the roster, few of them stand out as roster locks. A lot of them are also pretty inexperienced.
In addition to McMillan, Chris Johnson, Miles Battle, Jason Marshall Jr., and Ethan Bonner are cornerbacks who are entering their third season or fewer this fall. Rookie Ahmari Harvey, who the Dolphins have listed as a defensive back, is also on the Miami roster.
Sixth-year veteran Marco Wilson is the most experienced cornerback on the Dolphins roster. He has started 37 contests out of the 64 games he’s appeared in at the NFL level for the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals. But he hasn’t started a game since 2023.
The Dolphins also have Alex Austin, JuJu Brents, and A.J. Green III at cornerback on their roster.
So, it will be interesting to see if McMillan can carve out a role among that group in a very short period of time.
Final roster cuts around the league must be completed by 6 pm ET on Sunday, August 30. The Dolphins could begin cutting players as soon as the day after their preseason finale.
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