The Dolphins went into their first five games with special teams already under the microscope, and the issues kept piling up. Long returns hurt field position, and Riley Patterson’s numbers didn’t help matters either. He connected on just 77.8% of his field goals and 83.3% of his extra points before Miami moved on.
That opened the door for a familiar face. The Dolphins cut Patterson and brought back Zane Gonzalez, who had spent the offseason in Miami before going on injured reserve during camp. This time, the team is banking on the veteran steadiness Gonzalez has shown over seven NFL seasons.
Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor was straightforward about why Miami made the switch and how he views Gonzalez.
"Zane's a good player," Tabor said. "I said that in training camp.
I said that in OTAs. I felt like we had two NFL-quality players.
Obviously, we've made the change. I know Coach Hafley addressed that, and we're always going to do what we feel is best for the team at the moment, and that's what we did.
And Zane, looking forward to watching him play on Sunday...
"I was really pleased with Zane, how he was hitting the ball. Zane has been a guy in this league that's very consistent.
I would say that his heart rate is the same all the time, whether it's an extra point or a game winner. If he happens to miss one, his heart rate is still the same, and he's going to come right to the next one.
He's a seasoned pro. I've really watched him grow from when I was with another team, and we drafted him to where he is now.
You're dealing with two different people, really."
Gonzalez has kicked for the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders. Across those seven seasons, he has made 81% of his field goals and 95.3% of his extra points.
For a team trying to clean up mistakes across the board, the hope is that a more experienced leg can steady things. Miami has struggled enough already; it can’t afford special teams giving away more ground. Jeff Hafley’s first season as head coach is already dealing with enough turbulence, and the Dolphins are clearly hoping Gonzalez helps quiet one problem area.
In Other News...
Dolphins Face An Awkward Kicking Test In Week 7
Miamis kicking carousel has already spun once this season, and it is about to turn again in a place nobody in South Florida wanted it to. Jason Sanders is now lining up for the New York Jets, setting up a Week 7 meeting with the team that moved on from him last offseason after weighing salary demands, injury concerns and inconsistency. Miami has been trying to find stability at the position ever since, even bringing back a previous competitor after recently cutting the replacement it had tried.
Sanders has been steady enough in New York, making 12 of 13 field-goal attempts, though the lone miss came on a 50-plus-yard try and he has also missed an extra point. For the Dolphins, the awkward part is not just seeing a familiar leg on the other sideline, but revisiting a decision that was supposed to solve one problem and instead turned the spotlight back on the most fragile job on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Get An Offensive Boost At The Perfect Time Against Jets
Miamis offense is getting a timely reinforcement for its Week 7 meeting with the Jets, with Caleb Douglas set to return after working fully in practice Friday. The wide receiver had missed the previous three games with an ankle injury, and his availability gives the Dolphins another option as they try to keep the offense moving against a division opponent.
The broader injury picture is trending in the right direction for Miami, too, with Kyle Louis, Jaylen Wright and Will Kacmarek all expected to be available or close to it. On the other side, the Jets have their own uncertainty to sort through, as Breece Hall is listed as questionable with a quad injury, leaving the backfield situation unsettled heading into the matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Get A Rookie Back But One Big Jets Question Remains
Miami got a little healthier heading into its matchup with the Jets, activating rookie safety Kyle Louis off injured reserve and making him available for the upcoming game. The Dolphins also added some short-term depth by elevating edge defender Max Llewellyn and kicker Zane Gonzalez from the practice squad, moves that help patch together a roster thinned by injuries and recent releases.
Louis had been out since the season opener against the Raiders with a knee injury, so his return gives Miami another option in the secondary at a time when every available body matters. The bigger question now is how the Dolphins choose to deploy their reinforcements against New York, especially with the roster still in flux and a few spots needing to be covered on game day. [Read more 🡒]