The Dolphins elevated linebacker Quinton Bell and cornerback Isaiah Johnson off their practice squad on Saturday, making them eligible for Sunday’s game against the visiting Chargers (1 p.m., CBS-4).
Bell gives the Dolphins an additional linebacker in the absence of Tyrel Dodson, who is in concussion protocol and out Sunday. Bell was on the Dolphins’ 53-man roster all of last season and had 27 tackles and a sack in 17 games, including three starts.
Johnson, who spent the past year-plus on Miami’s practice squad, will give the Dolphins a fifth available cornerback if Storm Duck isn’t active.
Duck said he’s ready to return from an ankle injury sustained in Week 1, but the team has listed him as questionable for Sunday’s game.
Jack Jones, Rasul Douglas, Juju Brents and Ethan Bonner are the team’s other cornerbacks n the 53-man roster, besides Duck.
Johnson also gives the Dolphins another player on special teams in the absence of safety Elijah Campbell, who is out with a pectoral injury.
The Dolphins listed center Aaron Brewer as questionable for Sunday’s game, but Brewer said he plans to play. Brewer’s practice participation was limited all week with a pectoral injury, but he said the injury isn’t adversely affecting him.
“I’m sure I’ll be out there,” he said Friday. “I feel good to go.”
The Dolphins would have only seven available offensive linemen if he didn’t play.
Tua Tagovailoa will start against the Chargers (1 p.m., CBS 4) despite being limited Wednesday with hip and thumb injuries. He participated fully on Thursday and Friday.
Receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. is available Sunday after he spent last week recovering from a knee procedure.
The Chargers will be without three injured offensive tackles: starters Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, and fill-in start Trey Pimpkins III.
Armstrong released
The Dolphins released cornerback Cornell Armstrong from injured reserve with an injury settlement. Armstrong was placed on IR earlier this week, after sustaining a hamstring injury in the loss to Carolina.
Armstrong ended up playing 63 defensive snaps, over three games, in his second stint with the team.
Teams can bring eight players off injured reserve during the season, after they miss a minimum of four games.
Kicker Jason Sanders (hip) and center Andrew Meyer (elbow) already have been designated as two of the eight, but neither has been deemed healthy enough to return yet.
Dolphins starting offensive linemen James Daniels (pectoral injury) and Austin Jackson (toe) are expected to return at some point this season, but McDaniel said they likely will be out “several” more weeks.
Rookie cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., who is on IR with a hamstring injury, also is a candidate for one of those eight slots.
Offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg would not count among the eight if he returns from what McDaniel has called a “chronic” injury.
That’s because Eichenberg is on the physically unable to perform list, not on injured reserve.
This and that
Four Dolphins who were released by the team in August had workouts or visits elsewhere on Friday.
Receivers Erik Ezukanma and Andrew Armstrong auditioned for the 49ers.
The Steelers worked out defensive lineman Bell Stille and hosted offensive lineman Bayron Matos on a visit.