LaMike James was expected to be the Miami Dolphins punt returner in 2015. A fumble during the last preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coupled with a fumble on a kickoff return against the Washington Redskins led to his release on Monday.
The Dolphins activated tight end Jake Stoneburner once the team released James. Miami also re-signed Jacques McClendon and waived center Sam Brenner and Jonas Gray. It is also being reported that the Dolphins have signed former Philadelphia Eagles player Raheem Mostert.
Last season after being released from the San Francisco 49ers, the Dolphins signed James to the practice squad. He was promoted to the 53-man roster last November after Branden Albert’s season ending ACL and MCL injury.
Miami re-signed James in March and he was viewed to be the team’s kickoff and punt return specialist. Now that James has been released, the Dolphins will likely have Jarvis Landry or Mostert return kickoffs and punts.
James has played very little during his four-year career in the NFL. He appeared in 15 games and rushed for 184 yards on 39 carries since being selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2012 NFL Draft. James has been used more as a kick return as he has averaged 28.3 yards per return on 28 returns during his career.
Stoneburner got his first start in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers during the 2013 season. After being let go there, the Dolphins signed the former Ohio State Buckeye to their practice squad last November. In his career, Stoneburner has appeared in nine NFL games, all with the Packers.
6-3, 320 pounds McClendon first signed with the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent last April. He was released last Friday, September 11. Prior to signing with Miami, he spent two years (2013-14) with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Before that, McClendon was on the practice squads of the Detroit Lions (2011), Pittsburgh Steelers (2012), Atlanta Falcons (2012), while also being on the active roster of the Indianapolis Colts in 2010.
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