The Miami Dolphins host the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night, closing out the 2026 Preseason schedule. The game may include a cameo appearance by the starters, but the stars of the night will be the roster bubble players. Will anyone crush it on the field tonight and force the coaches to keep them on the 53-man regular-season roster?
Several players on the roster bubble are worth watching throughout the game. Could they make an impact on offense or defense? Are they in a key special-teams role that
hints at their making the roster? We take a look at some of the players to watch tonight.
Defensive tackle Fatorma Mulbah
Mulbah went undrafted out of West Virginia in 2025 and signed with the New York Jets. He did not make the roster out of the preseason and spent time on the practice squad during the year. He signed with the Dolphins at the start of August, and he has made an impact quickly. Mulbah has been a force in the middle of the line, especially against the run. He is not perfect and he has growth that still needs to happen, but with a strong performance against the Falcons, he could force Miami to keep him on the roster rather than risking having him claimed off waivers by another team.
Fullback D.J. Herman
I have gone back and forth on projecting Herman to make the roster, with him on the wrong side of the cut line in today’s 53-man roster projection. He has been solid as a lead blocker, in pass protection, and as an outlet option in the passing game. A linebacker in college, Herman has made the adjustment to being a fullback and he is doing it well enough to force the Dolphins to at least consider using a roster spot to keep him. Tight end Ben Sims, who is listed as the first team fullback on the depth chart, has missed time and Herman has taken advantage of the opportunity. A strong performance on Friday, especially if he makes a special teams play, could land him on the right side of the cut line.
Defensive end Cameron Goode
The numbers seem to be against Goode making the roster this year, but the 2022 seventh-round pick could change that tonight. Primarily a special teams player, if he can make an impact during the game, he might force his way onto the roster. He has been fine during training camp, but fine might not be good enough to justify a roster position. Stepping up tonight might be a requirement for Goode to stay with the team another year.
Safety Major Burns / Lonnie Johnson / Louis Moore
I am absolutely cheating here by putting all three players in one spot on my five players to watch, but it is because there really is not any separation between them at this point. One of the three of them will make the roster as the fourth safety on the depth chart – which one could be determined tonight. Johnson has dealt with an injury this summer, Burns has flashed but may not be as consistent, and Moore is a rookie trying to go from undrafted to the roster.
Offensive lineman Charlie Heck
The Dolphins likely signed Heck as a free agent to serve as the swing tackle and primary game-day backup for both Patrick Paul at left tackle and Austin Jackson at right tackle. He has been inconsistent all summer and he has done everything except claim that role. I do not have him making the roster right now, but a strong performance tonight could change that. Heck could find help in the roster math if guard Josh Priebe sees playing time at center and plays well, that could lead Miami to releasing center Andrew Meyer and open a roster spot for Heck. It might be a backdoor way to make the roster, but it would still land him on the roster.
