The key to surviving or even thriving in the NFL is making the most of moments and seizing opportunities when they present themselves.

Be it taking over a starting spot (Lester Cotton) that was vacated by injury, or taking advantage of the release of another player, as Brandon Pili seems to be doing, moving into the position of second-team nose tackle after Teair Tart was sent off on Tuesday.

Maybe he’ll be called upon to lead a unit (River Cracraft) when coaching others during training camp. Usually, everyone gets a chance to cement their place on the team and in the lineup, and it usually comes down to how the player performs on the ground when the lights are shining brightly.

Here’s a look at a few roster crunch situations that Dolphins decision-makers will no doubt discuss as they figure out how to put together the 53-man roster that must be submitted to the NFL in two weeks.

▪ Defensive line: Tart’s release opens the door for Pili to make the team as a backup nose tackle for Benito Jones. Nose tackles are hard to come by, so expect Pili to either make the 53 or stay on the practice squad if he’s not claimed. But Isaiah Mack, a four-year veteran who has played extensively in the NFL, has a knack for making plays in practice, and he showed that in the preseason when he recovered a Falcons fumble and set up a 5-yard touchdown run.

▪ Offensive line: The Dolphins will likely keep 10 offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, as that unit has been the most decimated by injuries over the past few seasons, leading to the “you can never have enough” attitude regarding O-linemen in the NFL. Patrick Paul, Kendall Lamm and Jack Driscoll are the best backups to Miami’s projected starters. The Dolphins are looking for players like Cotton to raise their hand and prove they belong, more than players like Ryan Hayes, Sean Harlow or Chasen Hines, who was released last week and returned for Kion Smith’s season-ending knee injury.

▪ Centre-back: How long will the Dolphins wait for Channing Tindall to figure it out? He’s on his third defense and still lacks the instincts needed to become an effective inside linebacker. At this point, Ezekiel Vandenburgh is ahead of him in depth. Who stays as Miami’s fifth inside linebacker may depend on who contributes on special teams.

▪ Security: Marcus Maye has a resume that outdoes every safety on the team except Jordan Poyer. He has started all 77 NFL games over the past seven seasons, but he struggles to stay ahead of Elijah Campbell in the rankings. Maye’s future depends on how much he can contribute on special teams and whether his value exceeds that of rookie Patrick McMorris, who led the team in tackles against the Falcons.

▪ Corner: Nik Needham is no longer the young, talented rookie who went undrafted and became a starting cornerback. He is a seasoned five-year veteran who is transitioning positions from cornerback to safety. He is valued for his intelligence, versatility and ability to always be in the right spot, but where does he fit in the pecking order of cornerbacks or safeties? If the decision is between Needham, Ethan Bonner, who has shined this training camp, and Siran Neal, a standout special teams player, Needham’s tenure in Miami could be coming to an end.

▪ Backlog: Tailback happens to be the most loaded unit on the roster, and to make matters worse, everyone brings something different to the table. Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane, and Jaylen Wright are all safe. That means Jeff Wilson Jr., a tenacious runner, Chris Brooks, a young power back, and Salvon Ahmed, a talented scatback, are all competing for one, maybe two available tailback spots on the 53-man roster.

▪ Recipient: Erik Ezukanma, Braylon Sanders and Anthony Schwartz are all on shaky ground having not played well enough to be a top-five receiver, and rookie receiver Malik Washington has his inexperience and draft status as a sixth-round pick on his side, potentially keeping him safe. Ezukanma, a 2022 fourth-round pick, just returned from an injury that kept him out of action for two weeks. He will have to contribute more than Sanders and Schwartz, who were on Miami’s practice squad last season.

▪ Tight end: Jonnu Smith, Durham Smythe and Julian Hill have secured the top three tight end positions, but Miami needs a fourth because the team uses two tight ends so often. Tanner Conner has shined this training camp, but he is out with his rib injury from last season. That opens up an opportunity for Jody Fortson Jr. to catch up to Conner, but he too is out with an injury. The next two weeks will likely determine whether or not Conner or Fortson is on the practice squad.