Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. is set to make his 2023 debut against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Wilson was activated off injured reserve to the active roster Saturday for Sunday night’s game at Lincoln Financial Field. He had missed the season’s first six games on IR with ribs and finger injuries that date back to the preseason.
The Dolphins also announced Saturday they elevated tight end Tanner Conner from the practice squad to the game-day roster for Sunday in Philadelphia.
Wilson gives Miami a third available running back against the Eagles as only Raheem Mostert and Salvon Ahmed enter Sunday healthy. The Dolphins placed undrafted rookie Chris Brooks on injured reserve Friday with ankle and knee ailments, and rookie third-round pick De’Von Achane has already spent a week on IR with his knee injury.
The physical veteran tailback’s debut in the 2023 regular season also marks the first game where the projected 1-2 backfield punch of Mostert and Wilson will be available together. Without Wilson, Ahmed started off the season as the tailback that spelled Mostert, who leads the NFL with 11 total touchdowns, and then Achane emerged as an electric rookie averaging more than 12 yards per carry before his injury.
Acquired at the trade deadline in 2022, Wilson ran for three touchdowns and 392 yards on 84 carries (a 4.7 average) in eight games last season. He and Mostert, who both go back to time together with coach Mike McDaniel in San Francisco, signed back with the team in the past offseason.
In activating Wilson, the Dolphins will also be keeping cornerback Nik Needham on the physically-unable-to-perform list. He was listed as questionable Friday as he progresses toward returning from last year’s season-ending Achilles tear, but he was downgraded to out Saturday.
Miami would’ve needed to create a roster spot for Needham to bring him back. He misses a second consecutive game since being designated to return and resuming practice, which opened a 21-day to be activated.
The Dolphins still have cornerback Xavien Howard, center Connor Williams and fullback Alec Ingold questionable for Sunday.
Miami used its second of three free practice squad elevations on Conner, who also played in last week’s win over the Carolina Panthers. Conner made the Dolphins’ active roster last year as an undrafted rookie out of Idaho State.
