Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders could be done for the year, special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman revealed Thursday morning.
Aukerman said Sanders is “working his tail off” to get back on the field. But when asked if he expects the kicker to play at all this season, the coach balked.
“I’m not sure, I just don’t know if there is a timeline for it,” Aukerman said. “Again, that’s going to be with the trainers and things like that. Those guys will talk about it, and again it’s whatever is best for Jason (Sanders), that’s what we want.”
Fortunately for the Dolphins, they have found reliable kicking out of Riley Patterson, who signed with the team at the end of August after winning a competition to fill in for Sanders. In six games with Miami, Patterson has made seven of his eight field goal attempts and all 15 of his extra point tries. His only miss was a 57-yard try in Week 6.
Sanders, who turns 30 next month, suffered a hip injury during warmups ahead of Miami’s preseason finale in August. Days after the injury, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel offered a vague timeline for the kicker’s recovery.
“I don’t see a season-ender,” McDaniel said. “Basically, to our knowledge, surgery isn’t necessary but time is.”
Near the end of September, Aukerman told reporters “who knows when” Sanders will be back.
Sanders didn’t miss a game in his first seven years with the Dolphins. He’s made 84.6 percent of his field goals during his career with the team and 96.6 percent of his extra points. He made his last 27 field goal attempts of the 2024 season.