Former Green Bay Packers linebacker James Crawford wasn’t out of work for long.
The second-year player was claimed on waivers by the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday, just one day after the Packers released him to make room for incoming linebacker B.J. Goodson, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.
Crawford played in all 16 games for the Packers in 2018. He led the team with 13 special teams tackles.
Despite making the initial 53-man roster on Saturday, Crawford was deemed expendable when Goodson – a fourth-year linebacker with 20 career starts – became available. The Packers needed veteran depth at the position, especially with Oren Burks out for the first month or more of the season.
Crawford was a core special teams player but struggled to develop at inside linebacker. He specifically had problems in coverage and playing in space during the Packers’ four preseason games this summer.
Crawford will likely become an asset for new Dolphins special teams coordinator Danny Crossman. He’ll also be reunited with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who coached inside linebackers and was the run game coordinator for the Packers last season.
