The Miami Dolphins finally pulled the plug on struggling place-kicker Riley Patterson and also waived cornerback Storm Duck. It’s a move that felt inevitable for a team that can’t catch a break, especially when your special teams aren’t executing the basics.
A Kicker’s Short Leash, Especially When You’re Winless
Patterson was out after two seasons with Miami, having played 66 games in his career. This season, he hit 7 of 9 field-goal attempts and 5 of 6 on extra points. Those numbers aren’t terrible on paper, right? But for the Dolphins, who are still looking for their first win of the season, every single point and every single play matters. And it turns out, the coaching staff was not thrilled with his kickoffs. Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley didn’t mince words about it either, saying Monday that they “did try to kick him out of the end zone and that was discussed and just not executed the way that we wanted it to be.” That’s a brutal indictment, essentially saying he couldn’t do the one thing they repeatedly told him to do. You just can’t have those kinds of breakdowns on a winless squad.
Next Man Up: Zane Gonzalez Steps In
With Patterson out, the Dolphins didn’t waste any time. They signed Zane Gonzalez to the practice squad, and he’s almost certainly going to be activated before their next game. Gonzalez was actually with the team during the preseason before an injury sidelined him, so at least he’s got some familiarity. And yeah, Storm Duck got waived, another move to try and shake things up. It’s a clear message: something had to give. They’re trying anything to spark some life into this team.
The Dolphins are heading to New York to face the Jets this Sunday. Every game from here on out is about showing *something*. With a new kicker stepping in, all eyes will be on whether this change can actually bring some much-needed consistency to their special teams. It’s time to see if Gonzalez can deliver where Patterson couldn’t.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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