Team news: Miami Dolphins | Page 3

Kicker Jason Sanders is not going to be available at the start of the season but not season-ending.

The timeline for Sanders looks to be about 4-5 weeks, according to other reports. Look for the team to bring in another kicker.

Jaylen Wright likely won't play Week 1 but "not too far off .. after that," McDaniel said.

Related players: De'Von Achane, Ollie Gordon, Mike Boone

The rookie Gordon should slot in behind Achane as the team's RB2. It could be something to keep an eye on later in fantasy drafts. Wright didn't look good in the preseason and the Dolphins are looking to improve in short yardage situations with the loss of Alexander Mattison, so Gordon will likely have some fantasy value right from the start - with the potential to keep the RB2 job even when Wright comes back.

Jaylen Wright is being walked to the Baptist Health facility with a limp and it doesn’t look good. Not saying season ending, but this isn’t a “I’ll bounce back” limp. But at least he’s walking.

Related Players: De'Von Achane, Ollie Gordon, Alexander Mattison

If this really is serious, it could leave Gordon and Mattison in line for legit work with Achane also nursing an injury. We'll keep an eye on both injuries and a potential RB move if one takes place.

And another trade! The Denver Broncos are sending WR Devaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints for a 2026 4th-round pick and a 2027 7th-round pick, per sources.

Related Players: Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Mason Tipton, Brandin Cooks, Cedrick Wilson

That's a lot of related players, but the biggest impact is probably on rookie Pat Bryant, who has played well enough to make Vele expendable in Denver.

The Saints will presumably employ the 6'4" Vele as a rotational threat, which makes him a little more interesting in super deep leagues for a team that is projected to be playing from behind a ton.

The Dolphins have activated TE Darren Waller off the physically unable to perform list, and he will practice for the first time since the trade/unretirement.

It's still hard to say exactly what type of role he'll play in Miami, considering he was out of football a couple of months ago, but there are worse offenses to be tied to. We'd consider him more of a deep streamer than an every-week fantasy option, though we could see some spike weeks along the way as a red zone option on a team with smaller-stature receivers.

The Dolphins are keeping one of their key offensive players sidelined for at least the next few practices.

Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters in his Monday press conference that De’Von Achane is unlikely to practice this week due to a calf issue.

Related players: Ollie Gordon, Jaylen Wright

But McDaniel noted that Achane getting held out of practice is precautionary, the story went on to say. We also just posted a news story about how Gordon and Wright are battling for the team's RB2 role, which the Dolphins would like to see go to more of a power back. As far as Achane goes, it sounds like it's not serious and he should be fine before Week 1.

But does Dolphins rookie running back Ollie Gordon II, who rushed for 50 yards on 10 carries in last Saturday’s 24-17 victory over the Lions, provide everything that’s necessary as RB2 behind starting running back De’Von Achane and ahead of second-year running back Jaylen Wright?

It appears to me that he does. Gordon, this year’s sixth-round pick from Oklahoma State, at this point seems better equipped to serve as Achane’s primary backup than Wright, last year’s fourth-round pick out of Tennessee.

Keep in mind, this is just the opinion of the author. However, with Alexander Mattison now missing the season, the team is looking for a power back to perhaps get short-yardage and goal line carries. The author said Gordon (6 foot 2, 225 pounds) provides more power than Wright (5-10, 208). The author added Gordon hits holes faster and more decisively, he has better hands and more special teams value. He also shows a knack for double-digit gains on the ground and in the air. It remains to be seen what direction the Dolphins go in for this role. Achane is currently missing time with an injury, so both Gordon and Wright are getting plenty of chances to show their stuff.

The Dolphins opted to sign Mike Boone and Aaron Shampklin on Monday upon the bad news for Alexander Mattison. Neither is the power runner Mattison is, but they were the choices over Jamaal Williams, who is known to bulldoze his way between the tackles.

“When we work out guys, we base it on the facts in front of us,” said McDaniel, indicating the roster spots were earned in the tryout.

Related players: Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon II, De'Von Achane

Perhaps the most important thing to note is McDaniel also said the team selected capable short-yardage backs in the past two drafts in Wright and Gordon II, along with key run blockers. If the Dolphins do feel strongly about that, it's more likely one of those two backs takes over the role Mattison may have had. But then one has to wonder, why weren't they in that position before the team felt the need to sign Mattison. Outside of Achane, this will be a situation to monitor.

Miami Dolphins wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle remain day-to-day as the team shifts from Chicago to Detroit on its 11-day preseason trip through the Midwest.

While the team’s top two receivers sat as most other starters played in Sunday’s preseason opener at the Chicago Bears, Hill and Waddle could see reps against the Lions in joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday.

“They’re definitely in the conversation, for sure,” McDaniel said of their prospects of practicing against the Lions.

The story said Hill was revealed last week to be dealing with an oblique injury as he was sidelined for the joint session with the Bears on Friday and then Sunday’s exhibition. The story added Waddle was involved in the practice and took a hard hit from Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.

Dolphins running back Alexander Mattison’s season is over.

Mattison underwent season-ending neck surgery on Sunday in Chicago, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Mattison hurt his neck during Sunday’s preseason game against the Bears and had the surgery at a nearby hospital after the game.

Related players: De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon, Jamaal Williams

The seriousness of the injury stands in contrast to what Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said after the game when he said he was doing well and had some neck and shoulder soreness, the story pointed out. Mattison was looking good early in camp according to reports, and seemed like he could be a viable change of pace and goal line option for Achane. The team was hosting Williams to perhaps take that role.