A quick look at percolating Dolphins roster battles, with teams required to cut from 90 players to 53 by Saturday afternoon:
• Backup defensive back positions: On the team: the four starters, third-round rookie Cordrea Tankersley, Michael Thomas (special teams ace and No. 3 safety until T.J. McDonald’s eight-game suspension ends) and cornerback Alterraun Verner (who could still overtake starter Byron Maxwell).
McDonald doesn’t count against the 53 until his suspenion ends.
That’s seven, leaving two or three spots among Walt Aikens (proven special teams player who had a back problem earlier in camp and has never been a factor on defense); undrafted rookies Torry McTyer (flashed early, less so recently) and Maurice Smith (can play safety or corner and has spent some time with the second team) plus three unproven second-year players who weren’t anything special this month: Jordan Lucas, A.