Dolphins keep adding ex-Packers players, sign 2 to practice squad

Another day, another round of former Green Bay Packers heading to South Beach.

From their front office, coaching staff, main roster and now practice squad, the Miami Dolphins continue to add former Packers to their organization.

The latest came with the practice squad signings of wide receiver Will Sheppard and cornerback Jaylin Simpson.

Sheppard, 24, was a standout performer for the Packers during the preseason, capping it with a punt return for a touchdown in their 42-38 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 28. Sheppard also had a receiving touchdown in the game. He finished the three-game preseason with nine receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

But that performance wasn’t enough for him to earn a roster spot with the Packers as general manager Brian Gutekunst went with undrafted rookie J. Michael Sturdivant as the final wide receiver.

Sheppard, himself an undrafted player in 2025, had spent all of last season on the Packers’ practice squad.

Simpson was also a roster casualty on Sunday, Aug. 30.

A fifth-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2024, Simpson joined the Packers in August 2025. After Simpson was released during roster cuts a week later, he signed to the Packers practice squad. He spent a majority of the year on the practice squad before playing in the Week 18 game against the Minnesota Vikings, totaling eight tackles.

Simpson, 26, had eight tackles in the 2026 preseason for the Packers.

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Sheppard and Simpson join multiple other former Packers in the Dolphins organization.

Safety Zayne Anderson and quarterbacks Malik Willis and Kyle McCord are all on the Dolphins’ 53-man roster.

Anderson signed as a free agent in March after spending the previous three years with the Packers.

Willis signed a three-year $67.5 million contract to be the Dolphins’ starter after serving as Jordan Love’s backup for the last two years. McCord, who spent training camp and the preseason with the Packers, will be Willis’ backup in Miami after he was traded to the Dolphins on Sunday. McCord had an impressive preseason, punctuated by his four-touchdown game against the Cardinals.

The man behind these acquisitions in Miami is ex-Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, who was hired to be the Dolphins’ new general manager in January. He was in the Packers’ front office for 19 years.

Sullivan’s first hire was naming Jeff Hafley as the new head coach. Hafley spent the previous two years as the Packers’ defensive coordinator. Hafley hired former Packers linebackers coach Sean Duggan to be his defensive coordinator.

And ex-Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry is still with the Dolphins. He’s in his third year with the Dolphins coaching staff after Hafley retained Barry.

The Packers finalized their practice squad on Monday, Aug. 31, a day after setting their 53-man roster.

They’ll start with 13 players on their practice squad.

Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (pictured above) is one of the practice squad players.

Check out the other 12 who signed to the Packers practice squad in this gallery.

<1 / 13

The Packers finalized their practice squad on Monday, Aug. 31, a day after setting their 53-man roster.

They’ll start with 13 players on their practice squad.

Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (pictured above) is one of the practice squad players.

Check out the other 12 who signed to the Packers practice squad in this gallery.

<2 / 13

Dalton Cooper, offensive lineman

(Returns to the Packers after being cut on Sunday)

<3 / 13

Dillon Wade, offensive lineman

(Returns to the Packers after being cut on Sunday)

<4 / 13

Josh Gesky, offensive lineman

(Returns to the Packers after being cut on Sunday)

<5 / 13

Drake Dabney, tight end

(Returns to the Packers after being cut on Sunday)

<6 / 13

Chris Hilton Jr., wide receiver

(Returns to the Packers after being cut on Sunday)

<7 / 13

Isaiah Neyor, wide receiver

(Returns to the Packers after being cut on Sunday)

<8 / 13

Jaden Crumedy, defensive tackle

(Returns to the Packers after being cut on Sunday)

<9 / 13

Arron Mosby, edge rusher

(Returns to the Packers after being cut on Sunday)

<10 / 13

Nyjalik Kelly, edge rusher

(Returns to the Packers after being cut on Sunday)

<11 / 13

Kristian Welch, linebacker

(Returns to the Packers after being cut on Sunday)

<12 / 13

Domani Jackson, cornerback

(Returns to the Packers after being cut on Sunday)

<13 / 13

Murvin Kenion III, safety

(Returns to the Packers after being cut on Sunday)

Here are other former Packers signed by other teams to their practice squads this week:

Darian Kinnard (OL) to the New York Giants

Signed last year to the Packers, Darian Kinnard saw action in all 17 games as a backup. But he was released during roster cuts on Sunday, Aug. 30.

Messiah Swinson (TE) to the Cleveland Browns

Messiah Swinson was in his third stint in Green Bay before he was released on Aug. 30. Swinson had never played in a regular-season game for the Packers. He caught one pass for 11 yards during the 2026 preseason.

Shemar Bartholomew (CB) to the Tennessee Titans

Shemar Bartholomew joined the Packers in December 2025 after being cut from the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad. He was elevated to the main roster for the team’s regular-season finale against the Vikings while the team rested their starters. He had four tackles and one for a loss in the game. Bartholomew had five tackles during the Packers preseason.

Isaac Yiadom to the Washington Commanders

Isaac Yiadom last played with the Packers in 2021. Acquired by the Packers in a trade, Yiadom played in 16 games with one start. But the Packers released him before the team’s playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.

He later played with the Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers. He signed a three-year contract in March 2025 during his second stint with the Saints but was released during roster cuts on Aug. 30.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Dolphins keep adding ex-Packers players, sign 2 to practice squad

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