The final spot on the active roster the Miami Dolphins had open heading into Sunday’s 1 p.m. kickoff against the Carolina Panthers is going to offensive lineman Robert Jones.
Jones is being activated from injured reserve, the team announced Saturday.
A spot on the 53-man roster was available after rookie running back De’Von Achane was placed on injured reserve this week for his ailing knee with no subsequent corresponding move accompanying it.
In addition to activating Jones, Miami is also elevating tight end Tanner Conner from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Panthers.
Jones, who remains questionable on the team’s injury report as he returns from a knee ailment that caused him to miss the first five weeks of the season, gives the Dolphins depth on the interior of the offensive line as they have center Connor Williams already ruled out with a groin injury. Assuming Jones is active Sunday, he would be the team’s eighth offensive lineman.
The Dolphins were debating whether to activate running back Jeff Wilson Jr. before Sunday’s game, but that turned unlikely once he was deemed doubtful on the Friday injury report. Both Wilson and cornerback Nik Needham, who was also deemed doubtful Friday, were downgraded to out Saturday.
Wilson had already missed the first five weeks on injured reserve with injuries to a finger and his ribs. Needham has been rehabbing a torn Achilles suffered in October 2022.
Every NFL team has a maximum of eight players it can designate to return — meaning they begin their practice window ahead of activation on to the roster from IR or the reserved/non-football injury list.
Jones and Wilson already count toward those eight for the Dolphins. Miami also has cornerback Jalen Ramsey, left tackle Terron Armstead and Achane expected to make returns off IR later this season from their knee injuries. If wide receiver River Cracraft, on IR for a shoulder injury, or Erik Ezukanma, on NFI for a neck ailment, are designated to return at some point, those would mark the sixth and seventh designations for the team, putting the Dolphins near the limit.
The Dolphins also have outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips (oblique) and fullback Alec Ingold (foot) questionable against Carolina.
Miami spent its first of three practice squad elevations it can use on Conner, who made the team as an undrafted rookie out of Idaho State in 2022 and played in 13 games last season. He did not make the 53-man roster ahead of this season but was kept on the practice squad.
Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill said this week he is done getting fined for uniform violations, but that didn’t stop the NFL from digging into his pockets once again Saturday for another reason.
The league docked Hill $10,927 for unsportsmanlike conduct, the peace sign he flashed on his 69-yard touchdown against the New York Giants last Sunday, according to NFL Network.
Hill had previously received multiple fines for not following dress code regarding his socks on game days. He said this week he was prepared to comply with the uniform policy.
After the touchdown against New York, Hill was flagged for taunting as he jumped over a fan barrier. He was giving the football to his mother. There is no reported fine for that aspect of the celebration.
