Dolphins elevate Patterson and Colbert for Bills game. Kicker decision now looms
Hours before their game at Buffalo, the Dolphins on Thursday used their two permitted practice squad elevations on kicker Riley Patterson and safety Jordan Colbert.
Both will be available for the 8:20 p.m. game against the Bills (CBS-4, Amazon Prime).
Teams can elevate a specific player no more than three times in a season and this is Patterson’s third elevation. Because Jason Sanders must remain on injured reserve at least the first four weeks of the season, that creates a kicker dilemma for the Dolphins when they play host to the Jets on Monday, Sept. 29.
The Dolphins can either create a spot on the 53-man roster for Patterson until Sanders is healthy, or they can release Patterson, sign a different kicker and elevate that new kicker against the Jets.
Sanders has been projected to miss four to five weeks with a hip injury.
Patterson has converted his only two field goal attempts (40 and 44 yarders against the Patriots) and all three of his point after touchdown attempts.
Colbert, a second-year undrafted player from Rhode Island, essentially fills the spot of Ifeatu Melifonwu, who’s out with a calf issue. This will be the NFL regular-season debut for Colbert, who spent last season and the start of this season on Miami’s practice squad. Colbert has value on special teams.
Waddle update
Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle, who re-aggravated a shoulder injury this week, is expected to play against Buffalo, NFL Network reported Thursday afternoon.
Waddle, defensive tackle Benito Jones (oblique) and and linebacker Chop Robinson (knee) all are listed as questionable.
Running back Jaylen Wright (knee) and cornerback Ethan Bonner (hamstring) have no injury designations and are good to go after missing a few weeks. The Dolphins elevated running back Jeff Wilson Jr. the previous two weeks but had no reason to elevate him for this game, because Wright is now healthy.
Cornerback Storm Duck (ankle), Melifonwu (calf) and tight end Darren Waller (hip) were ruled out for the game.
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM.
