Decision looms for Miami Dolphins DB Patrick McMorris

The Miami Dolphins have a small group of players eligible to return from injured reserve or PUI, but time is running out on one of them.

Head coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that he does not expect either cornerback Patrick McMorris or cornerback Isaiah Wynn to be activated for the game against the New England Patriots after both completed another week of practice.

It was McMorris’ final week of practice, and the Dolphins will have to make a call next week on whether they will move him to the 53-man roster or place him on injured reserve through the end of the 2024 season.

The rookie sixth-round pick was placed on injured reserve days after the roster was cut to 53 with a calf injury and began practicing the week of Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.

In the meantime, Winn has one more week of practice left before the Dolphins will have to activate him and put him on the 53 or keep him on the reserve/PUP.

In any case, the Dolphins could also waive players, although this is unlikely.

It’s also possible that McDaniel could decide to activate one or both for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, but here’s what he said Friday: “Most likely next week. I don’t have a crystal ball, so I can’t say with 100% certainty since we still have this practice. But I’m guessing it’s more likely next week or after this week.”

Complicating matters is the fact that the Dolphins have a short week between their next two games due to a Thanksgiving night game against the Green Bay Packers.

In addition to Wynn and McMorris, the Dolphins have four other players sidelined who are now eligible to return but have not yet started practicing.

The list included PUPs Bradley Chubb and Cameron Good, QB Tyler “Snoop” Huntley on IR and long snapper Blake Ferguson on the reserve/non-football illness list.

McDaniel said Friday that he expects Ferguson to play again this season and the Dolphins will have to make a move after the New England game because Tucker Addington will use up his three practice roster promotions. That means the Dolphins will either have to sign Addington to the 53, activate Ferguson, or sign a third other long snapper to the practice squad to later elevate him to the game-day roster.

Stay tuned.