Dolphins sign 2 former Packers to practice squad

Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan are adding to Green Bay South in Year 1 of a major roster renovation. The Miami Dolphins announced the signing of two former Packers to the team's practice squad on Tuesday: wide receiver Will Sheppard and cornerback Jaylin Simpson.

Sheppard and Simpson will join quarterbacks Malik Willis and Kyle McCord and safety Zayne Anderson among the former Packers now with Hafley, the former Packers defensive coordinator, and Sullivan, a former Packers personnel executive, in Miami.

Sheppard was a preseason star for the Packers, catching a pair of touchdown passes and returning a punt 81 yards for a touchdown. After not making the Packers' 53-man roster, Sheppard passed on a chance to stay in Green Bay and is instead headed to Miami for a better chance of contributing in the short term. The same goes for Simpson, who spent all of the 2025 season on the Packers practice squad but struggled during preseason games this summer. Both were released on Sunday and cleared waivers on Monday, allowing them to sign with any team.

While the Packers would have ideally retained both players on the practice squad, adding to the depth of the 70-player roster entering 2026, especially considering Sheppard can return punts and Simpson was getting chances in the slot. But it's hard to blame either player for sensing the opportunity available in Miami, where the Dolphins have torn down the roster and are rebuilding under Hafley and Sullivan.

The Packers kept rookie receiver J. Michael Sturdivant on the 53-man roster on Sunday and signed receiver Isaiah Neyor to the practice squad on Monday. At cornerback, rookie Domani Jackson is back on the practice squad.

On Sunday, the Packers traded McCord to the Dolphins for a 2028 sixth-round pick during final roster cutdowns.