Jason

Sanders

Brewer has gotten All-Pro support this year with a career-high 85.9 PFF grade, so his potential return to the lineup after missing Week 17 would bode well for (apparently) Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon. Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks (hamstring), LB Chop Robinson (concussion), K Jason Sanders (right hip) and OL Austin Jackson (back) are all also questionable for Week 18.

Riley Patterson has been kicking in Sanders’ stead all year, converting 24-of-26 field goals and 31-of-32 extra points. Although the conversion rates are good, he lacks the requisite kick volume for K1 treatment. We do not know which player will be active on game day, but Sanders remained limited in practice all week.

If you’re thinking “haven’t thought of him for a minute,” well, Sanders has missed the entire season to this point with the hip ailment. Dolphins ST coordinator Craig Aukerman was asked Thursday about whether Sanders or Riley Patterson would kick this weekend and said he didn’t want to speculate. Dolphins long-time beat Barry Jackson noted that Aukerman was asked if he views it as “A). Sanders is Dolphins kicker moving forward period or B). This is a decision above my pay grade that must be made by whoever is in charge in next 8 months,” and Aukerman politely declined to answer. So, yeah. We don’t know who will kick for the Dolphins yet against the Bengals. Someone, probably.

He’s expected to be elevated and kick for the Dolphins in Week 1 against the Colts. As long as Patterson doesn’t leave points off the field, he should have a chance to replace Jason Sanders throughout his entire IR stint. Sanders is expected back in 4-5 weeks.

As expected, he’ll miss the next four games. Adam Schefter said yesterday that his timeline to return was “4-5 weeks” and the Dolphins worked out a few kickers and are expected to sign a new one sometime in the next few days.

“Surgery isn’t necessary, but time is,” McDaniel said. This likely will wind up with Sanders being placed on IR and the Dolphins bringing in a kicker after last cuts. Don’t go drafting Sanders this week for your kicker spot. ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes Sanders will be sidelined 4-5 weeks.

Sanders was inked to a five-year, $22 million extension in the 2021 offseason. The restructure frees up $1.3 million in cap space for Miami. It will give them some extra wiggle room to make in-season moves.

Fantasy football’s No. 2 kicker in 2020 is cashing in on a profoundly efficient season in which he made 36 of 39 field goal attempts, banging through all 36 of his extra point tries. He established himself as one of the league’s big-footed kickers by nailing eight of nine kickers over 50 yards. Sanders’ extension includes a $10 million guarantee. His 2020 numbers stand in stark contrast to his 2019 stats, which include seven missed field goals on 30 attempts. Only the Cowboys and Falcons attempted more field goals than Miami in 2020, giving Sanders the opportunity necessary to become a waiver wire darling in fantasy. Sanders will probably be one of the most over-drafted kickers in fantasy football next season.

Sanders is entering the final season of his rookie contract after being selected in the seventh round of 2018. Last year, Sanders connected on 36-of-39 field goal attempts and made all 36 extra points. Those are career-best numbers. Spending up on kickers coming off career years is typically a bad move, particularly in a cap-condensed season.

Even considering his position, Sanders (5'11/185) is a complete unknown amongst draft prospects. Sanders attempted just 35 field goals in three years, missing a concerning 10 of them. He was 10-of-15 as a senior. He must have a big leg. Any time a draft pick is used on a kicker, even a seventh-rounder, there’s a good chance they make the 53-man roster.