The Miami Dolphins will start the season needing to find a short-term replacement for their injured kicker.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel revealed Monday afternoon kicker Jason Sanders will indeed miss time in the regular season with his injury that didn’t allow him to kick in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While the specific injury hasn’t been disclosed by the team or McDaniel, an ESPN report said it’s a hip ailment which will put Sanders out four or five weeks.
The update comes after it was originally anticipated Sanders would be available for the Dolphins’ regular-season opener Sept. 7 at the Indianapolis Colts, as McDaniel said following Saturday night’s exhibition at Hard Rock Stadium.
“I think he’s going to have a little bit longer,” McDaniel said Monday. “I don’t anticipate him being available at the beginning of the season, but I don’t see a season-ender.”
McDaniel added surgery won’t be necessary for Sanders’ ailment.
Sanders was seen on the Miami sideline to start Saturday’s game. Shortly after kickoff, which was handled by punter Jake Bailey, Sanders went into the locker room with a trainer.
McDaniel indicated his initial prognosis on Sanders’ availability for Week 1 was based on the kicker’s assessment.
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“I haven’t been around him through injury, and I think his initial forecast — he’s not the greatest doctor,” McDaniel said.
The Dolphins will be looking for a free agent kicker to handle place-kicking duties to start the season. On Saturday, the team ran Bailey out there for a 51-yard field goal that was wide left and a fluttering low line drive. After the Dolphins’ two touchdowns, they attempted 2-point conversions.
Other injuries
Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright also isn’t expected to be available for Miami’s opener against the Colts, McDaniel said.
“But it’s not too far off in the future after that,” McDaniel said. “That’s the vague timeline I have on him.”
Wright left Thursday’s joint practice with the Jaguars limping and was unavailable for the preseason game Saturday. His specific injury has not been disclosed.
Tight end Darren Waller, after his activation from the physically-unable-to-perform list last week, is expected to ramp up his practice participation this week, per McDaniel.
Rookie defensive tackle Kenneth Grant is “doing well and there’s nothing in question for Week 1” after he missed the joint session and exhibition with Jacksonville.
On reserve offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg, who spent training camp on the PUP list, McDaniel said Monday he is not ready to put a timetable on his return.
Regarding starting right tackle Austin Jackson, McDaniel continues to believe he will be available for Week 1.
“So far, so good,” McDaniel said. “We are still on that steady path to Week 1 that looks safe, barring any setbacks.”
