Finnegan was released by the Saints on Tuesday, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.
Finnegan was released after signing with the Saints less than a month ago. The team now has just four healthy cornerbacks on the roster as Delvin Breaux and P.J. Williams are likely to open the season as starters. Finnegan, who has previously contemplated retirement, will now hit the open market in the hopes that he can land with a team looking to add veteran depth in the secondary.
Finnegan signed a contract with the Saints on Saturday.
Finnegan was going to retire before last season, but ended up signing with the Panthers. The veteran cornerback only played five games for Carolina last season, but accrued 18 combined tackles and one pass defended. Clearly, Finnegan is not the player he was four or five years ago, but he provides insurance for the New Orleans secondary should someone go down with an injury. He is currently listed with the second team defense.
Finnegan signed with the Panthers on Monday.
Finnegan joins Carolina after previously announcing his retirement in March of this year. However, with fellow veteran Charles Tillman currently dealing with a knee injury, the Panthers' secondary could use another experienced cornerback. Now 31 years old, Finnegan totaled 44 tackles and nine passes defended in 12 games for the Dolphins last season.
Cornerback Cortland Finnegan became the latest NFL player to retire, announcing his decision on Instagram. The 31-year-old was recently released by the Dolphins but could have easily latched on to another team.
"Spent nine years doing something I loved and it has paid off in so many ways," Finnegan wrote. "Time to move on and enjoy new people, new places and new ideas."
Finnegan retires with 645 career tackles, 18 interceptions, seven sacks, five forced fumbles and four touchdowns. He spent his first six seasons with the Titans, then two with the Rams before landing in Miami.
He was a first-team All-Pro in 2008 with Tennessee.
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The Dolphins have released cornerback Cortland Finnegan, the team announced.
Finnegan was set to count $6.475 million against the cap in 2015, but the team will only take a $1 million cap hit upon his release. He didn't record an interception in 2014 while opposing quarterbacks completed 66.2 percent of passes thrown at the cornerback.
The Dolphins enter Week 17 against the Jets relatively healthy, with only three players listed as questionable and nine players listed as probable.
Linebacker Jelani Jenkins (foot), defensive end Derrick Shelby (ankle) and tackle Dallas Thomas (foot) were labeled as questionable. Tight end Charles Clay (hamstring, knee), cornerback Cortland Finnegan (ankle, knee), linebacker Jonathan Freeny (hamstring), safety Don Jones (shoulder), linebacker Koa Misi (hamstring, knee), defensive tackle Earl Mitchell (back), defensive tackle Jared Odrick (ankle), running back Daniel Thomas (knee) and wide receiver Mike Wallace (back) were all deemed probable.
The Dolphins released their final injury report for the Week 16 matchup against the Vikings and tight end Charles Clay (hamstring) is listed as probable.
The Dolphins listed Jelani Jenkins (foot), Don Jones (shoulder) and Jamar Taylor (shoulder) as questionable.
The Dolphins deemed offensive lineman Nate Garner (illness) out. Dallas Thomas (foot) and Daniel Thomas (knee) are listed as doubtful.
The following players are listed as probable: Koa Misi ,Chris McCain, Cortland Finnegan, Jonathan Freeny and Jordie Tripp.
The Dolphins are 6 1/2-point favorites.
Dolphins tight end Charles Clay and cornerback Cortland Finnegan have been officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots. Clay, who was a limited participant all week, returned to action for the first time in two weeks against the Ravens last week.
Finnegan has missed the Dolphins' last four games with an ankle injury. Chris McCain and Jamar Taylor are also questionable.
Guard Nate Garner, who missed practiced all week with an illness, is out as well as defensive tackle Anthony Johnson.
Jelani Jenkins, Koa Misi and Jonathan Freeney are all doubtful. Walt Aikens, Dion Jordan, Dion Sims and Jimmy Wilson are all probable.
There is hope for a Dolphins secondary that has been decimated with injuries, even after starting free safety Louis Delmas is placed on season-ending IR, according to the Palm Beach Post, which is reporting that the team is hopeful cornerbacks Cortland Finnegan and Jamar Taylor will play next Sunday in New England.
Finnegan has been sidelined for four games with an ankle injury while Taylor has been out the last two with a dislocated shoulder.
The Dolphins listed linebacker Jonathan Freeny (hamstring), cornerback Jamar Taylor (shoulder), guard Nate Garner (illness), cornerback Cortland Finnegan (ankle), linebacker Chris McCain (ankle), running back LaMichael James and tackle Billy Turner as inactive for Sunday's game against Baltimore.
The Dolphins have labeled linebacker Jonathan Freeny (hamstring) and cornerback Jamar Taylor (shoulder) out for Sunday's pivotal game against Baltimore. Guard Nate Garner (illness), cornerback Cortland Finnegan (ankle) and linebacker Chris McCain (ankle) were deemed doubtful for Week 14.
Tight end Charles Clay (hamstring, knee) was the only player on the report deemed questionable. He was a limited participant all week leading up to Sunday.
Meanwhile, the following players were labeled as probable: Wide receiver Brian Hartline (knee), tackle Ja'Wuan James (neck), linebacker Jelani Jenkins (shoulder), center Samson Satele (ribs), wide receiver Mike Wallace (chest) and safety Jimmy Wilson (hamstring).
Dolphins cornerback Cortland Finnegan practiced Wednesday and was seen "running and cutting smoothly," reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Finnegan has missed three straight games with a left ankle injury but appears set to return Sunday against the Ravens, the paper said.
The Dolphins ruled these players inactive for Monday's game at the Jets: tight end Charles Clay (hamstring, knee), cornerbacks Jamar Taylor (shoulder) and Cortland Finnegan (ankle), linebacker Jonathan Freeny (hamstring), running back LaMichael James, offensive tackle Billy Turner and guard Nate Garner (illness).
The Dolphins listed a variety of players on its final Week 13 injury report, but only
Jonathan Freeny (hamstring) and Jamar Taylor (shoulder) have been declared out for Monday’s game at the New York Jets.
Tight end Charles Clay (hamstring/knee), cornerback Cortland Finnegan (ankle) and offensive lineman Nate Garner (illness) are listed as doubtful.
Offensive lineman Ja’Wuan James (neck) was the one player listed as questionable and Daryn Colledge, Rishard Matthews, Lamar Miller, Samson Satele and Mike Wallace are probable for Week 13.
Dolphins cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who practiced Wednesday, was absent from the Friday session, which calls into question his availability for the Monday night game against the Jets.
Finnegan is still trying to fully recover from an ankle injury that has prevented him from playing since Nov. 9.
Dolphins tight end Charles Clay and cornerback Cortland Finnegan both participated in practice Wednesday, which bodes well for their possible return to game action Monday night against the host Jets.
Clay missed the Week 12 game with knee and hamstring issues. Finnegan has been out the last two games with an ankle injury.
The Dolphins will be without two key starters against the Broncos in Week 12 after tight end Charles Clay and cornerback Cortland Finnegan were ruled inactive.
This is the first game Clay will miss while dealing with a knee and hamstring issue. Finnegan has not played since Week 9 against San Diego with an ankle injury.
The Dolphins listed a lengthy injury report for Week 12 at Denver.
Miami will be without the services of Jonathan Freeny after missing practice the entire week because of a hamstring injury. The team also labeled Charles Clay (knee, hamstring) and Cortland Finnegan (ankle) as doubtful. Daryn Colledge (back) and Lamar Miller (shoulder, knee) were deemed questionable.
Meanwhile, the following players were ruled as probable: Jarvis Landry (shoulder), Koa Misi (ankle), Mike Pouncey (hip), Kelvin Sheppard (hip, groin), Ryan Tannehill (left shoulder), Jordan Tripp (chest), Mike Wallace (calf) and Jimmy Wilson (hamstring).
A nagging ankle injury sidelined Dolphins cornerback Cortland Finnegan from practice again Thursday. Finnegan hasn't played since Nov. 9. It remains to be seen if he returns to game action Sunday in Denver.
Dolphins cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who missed Week 11 with an ankle injury, did not practice Wednesday as the team prepared for Sunday's visit to Denver.