Dolphins’ Sanders returns to practice. And Zach Wilson candid about not starting
The Dolphins opened Jason Sanders’ practice window on Wednesday, clearing the way for their former All Pro kicker to return from injured reserve before the end of the season.
Sanders sustained a hip injury during training camp and was originally expected to miss only a month, ESPN reported at the time.
Coach Mike McDaniel said recently that Sanders “hasn’t had a setback. He’s capable of kicking footballs” but there’s “risk of further injury [with] exertion. You don’t want to do that too soon.”
Special teams coach Craig Aukerman said last week that the fact that Riley Patterson has been very effective hasn’t been a big factor in the decision to keep Sanders on injured reserve.
“The thing we talk through is what’s best for Jason,” Aukerman said. “Is it Jason continuing to get better week by week where we can feel 100% confident and he feels 100 percent confident? We want to err on what’s best for him. It does help that Riley is doing well. [But] it’s what’s best for the player [Sanders].”
In Sanders’ absence, Patterson has connected on 24 of 26 field goals, including a career-long 56 yarder against Pittsburgh on Monday. That 92.3 percent accuracy is fourth best in the league among kickers who converted at least 20 field goals. He also has made 28 of 29 extra points.
Sanders, 30, made 37 of 41 field goals last season, with a long of 57 yards.
Sanders has connected on 187 of 221 field goals (84.6 percent) during his seven years with the Dolphins.
He’s under contract next season at $3.7 million; none of that money is guaranteed.
The Dolphins have four players on injured reserve who are eligible to return this season: Sanders, center Andrew Meyer (triceps), guard James Daniels (pectoral) and cornerback Storm Duck (knee). Of those, only Meyer and now Sanders have begun practicing.
Miami can activate Meyer anytime before Jan. 1, which is four days before the finale at New England.
Sanders can be brought back at any point this season.
Daniels hasn’t played since sustaining an injury in the season opener, and McDaniel said last week that there’s no timetable for his return.
Zach Wilson reacts
Hours after Mike McDaniel named Quinn Ewers the Dolphins’ starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against Cincinnati, Dolphins backup quarterback Zach Wilson said he was “frustrated” about being bypassed.
Wilson, who has been the Dolphins’ No. 2 quarterback for all but one game this season, said he was “maybe a little confused as well” about not getting the chance to replace Tua Tagovailoa, who was benched this week.
“Of course I would love to play,” Wilson said. “...I can’t control that. My job is to go out and do the best I can. Keep preparing, …. getting better, supporting Quinn. Excited for him to get his first start.”
Asked if McDaniel explained why he didn’t get the starting job, Wilson said: “A little bit. There’s still confusion there. But you know what? That’s how it goes sometimes.”
Wilson, who is on a one-year, $6 million contract, will remain the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday. Tagovailoa will be the No. 3 emergency quarterback, McDaniel said.
Did McDaniel tell Wilson if he might still play this season?
“Yeah, obviously, depending on how things go,”Wilson said. “That just goes without saying. It’s always a competition. You would hope all these organizations would want to play the best player and try and win.”
Asked to describe his one season as a Dolphin, Wilson said: “It’s definitely been eventful, right?... Guys have been great and I appreciate the organization bringing me here.
“It’s definitely been tough. I don’t think the season has gone as we all had hoped. Wish we could have pulled out some more wins and things had gone a little smoother. And of course, I would like to be playing, but it happens. So we’ll go from there.”
Injury report
The Dolphins had only a walk-through on Wednesday because they played Monday.
But if they had practiced, four players would have missed practice: linebacker Jordyn Brooks (foot/knee), safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf), safety Elijah Campbell (ankle/knee) and cornerback Isaiah Johnson (knee). McDaniel said Fitzpatrick’s status is “week to week.”
Defensive lineman Kenneth Grant (shoulder), Sanders (hip) and tight end Darren Waller (rest/knee) would have been limited.
Here are my four Wednesday stories on Tagovailoa’s benching and the fallout.
This story was originally published December 17, 2025 at 6:03 PM.
