The Miami Dolphins are set to face the Cincinnati Bengals, who currently have a 4–10 record, this Sunday. However, the Dolphins will be without their starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has been benched in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers. Originally anticipated to be a prime-time game, the matchup was flexed out in favor of a more favorable Ravens-Patriots showdown, marking Miami’s sole opportunity for Sunday Night Football this season.
On the brighter side for Dolphins fans, the team has opened the practice window for All-Pro kicker Jason Sanders, who has been sidelined all season due to a hip injury. Coach Mike McDaniel noted earlier this month that while Sanders was capable of kicking, caution is necessary to avoid the risk of further injury.
Sanders had an impressive season in 2024, making 90.2% of his field goal attempts, which is his best performance since his All-Pro season in 2020. During his absence, the team brought in Riley Patterson, who has made 92.3% of his attempts this year. However, Sanders holds the advantage with a career-high of 12 field goals over 50 yards last season, while Patterson has six in his entire NFL career. Although Sanders has been the team’s primary kicker since 2018 and had never missed a game until this season, he has now sat out all 14 games. His injury occurred just before the final preseason game, and although initial expectations were that he would miss only about a month, his recovery has taken longer than anticipated.
As the preparation for the game against the Bengals continues, Sanders’ participation remains uncertain. The Dolphins could choose to keep Patterson as their primary kicker for the rest of the season while Sanders remains on injured reserve. Sanders is still under contract through 2026, whereas Patterson will become a free agent at the conclusion of the season.
In addition to the kicking situation, the Dolphins are dealing with injuries on their roster. Defensive star Minkah Fitzpatrick has suffered a calf injury, which places him on a “week-to-week” status and likely sidelines him for the upcoming game. Jordyn Brooks is also dealing with a foot and knee issue and has not participated in practice this week. Special teams contributor Elijah Campbell missed Monday’s game due to an injury and has yet to return to practice.
On a more positive note, running back De’Von Achane appears to be fit for Sunday’s game, having avoided a re-aggravation of his rib injury. With a rookie quarterback starting, Achane’s involvement will be critical for the Dolphins, as they aim to maintain offensive consistency and keep their new quarterback from facing challenging third-down situations. The team’s relatively stable health aside from injuries may provide a solid foundation for their performance against the Bengals.