The Dolphins filled two immediate needs on Saturday by elevating kicker Riley Patterson and running back Jeff Wilson Jr. from the practice squad, making them available for Sunday’s opener at the Colts (1 p.m., CBS-4).
The Dolphins opted not to create a spot on the 53-man roster for another tight end or guard, two positions where they’re dealing with injuries. That would suggest that Miami is hopeful that guard James Daniels, who sustained an ankle injury during Thursday’s practice, will be able to play Sunday.
It also means that Miami will have just two tight ends available on Sunday: Julian Hill and Tanner Conner.
Tight end Darren Waller, who is coming off a year in retirement, sustained a hip strain before Wednesday’s practice and was ruled out for the game. He had been scheduled to sit out Wednesday’s practice but participate in Thursday’s and Friday’s sessions. The injury prevented him from participating in any of the practices.
“We were planning for setback prevention,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “And he had a setback.”
Waller began training camp on the physically unable to perform list, came off it in late August and had practiced on a limited basis before Wednesday’s injury.
By keeping Waller, the Dolphins guaranteed his one-year deal -- which has $2 million guaranteed and $3 million in incentives. Veteran contracts become guaranteed if they are on the team through the first week of the season.
Patterson was elevated to fill in for Jason Sanders, who is expected to miss at least four weeks with a hip injury. Patterson will be the Dolphins’ kicker for at least the first three games of the season, general manager Chris Grier said.
Patterson connected on all 13 of his kicking attempts (including a 57-yarder) during a Dolphins workout that pitted him against veterans Greg Joseph, Eddy Piniero and Zane Gonzalez.
Undrafted out of Memphis in 2021, Patterson has kicked for Detroit, Jacksonville, Cleveland, the Jets and Atlanta. He has made 63 of 74 career field goal attempts (including 4 for 7 for Atlanta last season) and 109 of 113 extra points.
He spent three games with the Falcons last season and one with the Browns but did not attempt a field goal during his Cleveland appearance.
For his career, Patterson is 16 for 20 on field goals of 40 to 49 yards and 4 for 9 on field goals of 50 yards or more. His career long is 53 yards.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins elevated Wilson to give the team a third healthy tailback, behind De’Von Achane (who is back from a calf injury) and rookie Ollie Gordon II.
Jaylen Wright remains on the 53-man roster but is out Sunday and is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks with a leg injury.
The Dolphins opted for Wilson over their other practice squad running back, JaMychal Hasty, who had 20 carries for 69 yards in 15 games for the Patriots last season.
Wilson, who was released by San Francisco last week, averaged 4.5 yards on 141 carries, with three touchdowns, over the past 2 1/2 seasons with the Dolphins, making 27 appearances and one start.
Teams can elevate no more than two players for a game. And a team cannot elevate the same player more than three times in a season.
Besides Waller and Wright, cornerback Ethan Bonner (hamstring) also has been ruled out for Sunday’s game.
Like Daniels, receiver Dee Eskridge (concussion) also is listed questionable; Eskridge practiced fully on Friday.
Receiver Tyreek Hill (calf/oblique), Achane (calf) and safety Ashtyn Davis (calf) practiced fully on Friday and have no injury designation for the game.
Teams can bring as many as eight players off injured reserve after four games, and Sanders and center Andrew Meyer will count as two of those four. McDaniel said Friday that the team has not discussed putting Wright or Bonner on injured reserve. And Miami opted not to put Waller on injured reserve, at least for now.
Offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg, who has been on the physically unable to perform list since the start of training camp, is eligible to return after four games, but it’s unclear if he will be ready after sustaining a lower-body injury during the summer.