SoFla Guide Editors
The Dolphins are 0-5 and tired of it, so they shook up the roster before Sunday’s trip to face the Jets, starting with the kicker. Miami released Riley Patterson on Tuesday and signed veteran Zane Gonzalez to the practice squad, according to Local10 and ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Whether the changes add up to that elusive first W depends a lot on who is actually healthy enough to suit up in New Jersey.
The kicker shuffle (and a few more moves)
Patterson’s exit was not exactly a shocker. Local10 reported that he missed field goals in each of Miami’s first two games and failed to convert an extra point in Week 5. When your season is already this tough, leaving points on the board stings extra.
The kicking game’s problems go beyond the guy swinging his leg, too. Local10 also reported that the Dolphins are allowing a league-worst 34.1 yards per kickoff return. That’s a lot of free real estate.
Gonzalez is a familiar face. He originally signed with Miami in March for the 2026 season but was cut in August after suffering an injury during training camp. Now he’s back, though only on the practice squad for the moment. The Miami Herald and NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk reported that he has not yet been elevated to the active roster, so who kicks Sunday is still an open question.
Patterson wasn’t the only one shown the door. The Dolphins announced on their official team account, as relayed by NFL Trade Rumors, that they also released cornerback Storm Duck and edge rusher Andre Jones Jr. on Tuesday, and promoted edge rusher Rodney McGraw to the active roster.
Who’s healthy for Sunday?
Start with quarterback Malik Willis, who has been dealing with a thumb injury. Head coach Jeff Hafley sounded pretty relaxed about it.
“I foresee him being good to go,” Hafley said, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Then there’s rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas, the third-round pick out of Texas Tech. The Miami Herald reported that Douglas has not played since suffering an ankle injury in the Dolphins’ Week 2 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on September 20. Hafley is clearly eager to see him back in the mix.
“It will be good to get him back out there,” Hafley said, per the Herald. “We’ll be very excited if we can get him back and get him going this week, especially just looking back and seeing what he was able to do and what he brings to the offense.”
Hafley added, “Just kind of looking back through the last couple of weeks, and some of the things that he did, we’ve missed him.”
Tight end Greg Dulcich didn’t hold back either. “Caleb’s a stud. His first catch was that one-handed one so we know what he can do,” Dulcich told the Herald.
Just don’t pencil him into the lineup yet. Douglas reportedly described himself as day-to-day, according to CBS Sports, and the Miami Herald reported that his availability for Sunday remained uncertain as of Wednesday.
Kyle Louis is back on the field, sort of
Rookie safety Kyle Louis, a fourth-round pick out of Pittsburgh, returned to practice Wednesday. The Sun Sentinel reported that the Dolphins opened his 21-day window to be activated from injured reserve. Louis suffered a knee injury in the season opener at Las Vegas, an MCL sprain per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, and was placed on IR in mid-September.
Before anyone starts printing No. 1 fan foam fingers, Hafley pumped the brakes.
“He hasn’t played real football in quite a while. It’s his first practice back, so as excited as I am to have him back, I think I kind of have to temper that and see where he’s at,” Hafley said, according to the Sun Sentinel.
So while the Sun Sentinel and WFLX have discussed Louis possibly being activated in time for Week 7, that is far from settled. The coach himself says he needs to see more first.
What it means for South Florida, and how to catch it
This is Hafley’s first season running the show in Miami, and an 0-5 start has the Dolphins sitting at the bottom of the AFC East. Fans have been waiting five weeks for something to celebrate. Getting a dynamic young receiver back and cleaning up the kicking game would be a nice place to start.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 25, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. If you’re watching from your couch in Kendall or a sports bar in Fort Lauderdale, keep an eye on the final injury reports and any practice squad elevations later this week. Those will tell you who’s kicking, whether Douglas is catching passes again and if Louis is ready to roll.
Win No. 1 is out there. The Dolphins just have to go get it.
