Miami puts faith in rookie kicker

DAVIE — The Miami Dolphins know what they are getting themselves into bestowing a lofty responsibility on a rookie placekicker.

But special-teams coordinator Darren Rizzi has plenty of faith in Jason Sanders heading into Sunday’s season opener against the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium.

“He wouldn’t be here if I weren’t confident in him,” Rizzi said of Sanders, who beat out Greg Joseph for the job. “If we didn’t feel like he was the guy, we would have gone with somebody else that we felt more comfortable with it.”

Sanders, who will make the minimum of $480,000, will take over for Cody Parkey, who signed with the Chicago Bears during the offseason.

Parkey was paid a base salary of $690,000 with Miami before reportedly agreeing to a 4-year $15 million deal with $9 million guaranteed.

During the preseason, Sanders missed two 53-yard field goals but was 7-of-9 overall in four games. Against the Falcons on Aug. 30, Sanders nailed a 56-yard field goal that could have travelled further if necessary.

Rizzi said during the competition between Sanders and Joseph, there was a point he knew “when I knew our kicker was here in Miami.”

Rizzi said Sanders’ consistency and his demeanor were factors that ultimately helped him land the job.

It also kept the Dolphins from signing another kicker who was waived when final rosters were formed earlier this week.

“I really like where he’s at from a mentality standpoint,” Rizzi said of Sanders. “He’s never too high, never too low. He’s got a great temperament for a kicker. There’s a lot to be said for that. … If he misses one or makes one, he has the same mentality. He’s mature beyond his years, and that part is going to help him moving forward.”

Rizzi knows a player like Sanders, who made 25 of 35 field goals and all but one of 112 PATs in three seasons at New Mexico, will experience some bumps in the road as a rookie.

But Rizzi believes Sanders will be consistent enough to help the Dolphins win — no matter the circumstances he may face this season.

“When that situation happens, we’ll see what the result is,” Rizzi said when asked if Sanders is primed for a high-pressure situation.

“But the bottom line is I’m very confident in him.”

Meanwhile on Thursday, receiver and return specialist Jakeem Grant cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play against Tennessee.

Grant’s return bodes well for the Dolphins, who now have their primary kick returner and punt returner in the fold on special teams.

Grant will also serve as Miami’s fourth receiver with DeVante Parker not expected to play because of a broken finger on his right hand.

Grant, who is entering his third season, was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.

He suffered the concussion during the Dolphins’ third preseason game against the Ravens on Aug. 25.

Running back Frank Gore did not practice on Thursday, getting a rest day. Gore was listed on Miami’s injury report Wednesday as a full participant despite an Achilles injury.

Offensive guard Josh Sitton (shoulder) was a full participant in second straight practice. Dolphins guard Ted Larsen (knee) remains limited.