Dolphins center Michael Deiter returns to practice, but Miami’s receivers still need more time

Miami Dolphins center Michael Deiter returned to practice on Wednesday as he could be approaching a return from the foot injury that has kept him on injured reserve since Oct. 2.

Deiter was seen working out with a compression sleeve on his right leg at Wednesday drills ahead of the Dolphins’ Sunday home game against the Carolina Panthers (5-6).

Miami (4-7) will see how Deiter progresses this week to make a determination on whether the team will activate him off IR ahead of Sunday or in the coming weeks.

Dolphins coach Brian Flores noted ahead of Wednesday’s session that others he’s hopeful are nearing a return to practice — receivers Will Fuller (finger) and DeVante Parker (hamstring) and running back Malcolm Brown (quadriceps) — need more time to recover from their injuries. All are eligible to be activated off injured reserve once they’re ready.

“All getting closer, just not quite there yet,” Flores said.

Flores addressed the Dolphins’ Tuesday addition of veteran safety Will Parks off the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad.

“He, obviously, has some experience in this league — free safety, strong safety, kicking game,” said Flores of Parks, who was wearing No. 36 at Miami’s Wednesday practice. “Opportunity to add him to the roster, take a look at him. Got some guys banged up. That played a role in it, as well. Have watched him over the years, and had an opportunity to have him join our team.”

Flores said cornerback Jamal Perry’s knee injury suffered in Sunday’s win at the New York Jets and landed him on IR on Tuesday is season ending.

“Hate when that happens,” Flores said. “He’s been a significant contributor to this team for three years. He’s been on the active [roster]. This year, he’s on the practice squad. He was back on the active this past weekend, and unfortunately, that’ll be season-ending.”

The team is hopeful, though, outside linebacker Brennan Scarlett, who also was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday due to a knee injury sustained Sunday, can return before season’s end.

“It’ll be at least three weeks, and we’ll kind of take it from there,” Flores said. “I don’t want to put a timeline on that one.”

In his absence, Flores said the Dolphins will sign fellow outside linebacker Vince Biegel to the 53-man roster from the practice squad, a move made official later Wednesday.

A valuable member of Miami’s 2019 defense, Biegel missed the 2020 season with a torn Achilles. He was back with the Dolphins for training camp ahead of this season but released with an injury settlement ahead before the Dolphins then brought him back to the practice squad in October.

“I think he’s moving around well,” Flores said. “I think he’s brought a lot of juice, energy to practice, when we brought him up as couple of times.”

During the media viewing portion of Wednesday’s practice, tight end Adam Shaheen and defensive back Elijah Campbell were not seen. Shaheen was noticeably limping after a play as he ran back to the sideline on Sunday at the Jets. Both were indeed listed as not participating on Wednesday’s injury report — Shaheen with a knee injury and Campbell with both toe and knee ailments.

Dolphins safety Jevon Holland (knee/ankle), safety Brandon Jones (ankle/elbow), linebacker Elandon Roberts (hip), defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (quadriceps) and cornerback Trill Williams (hamstring) were deemed limited participants Wednesday. So were cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, but they were due to veteran rest.

Thomas a HOF semifinalist

Dolphins great Zach Thomas was named one of 26 modern-era semifinalists for the 2022 Hall of Fame.

It’s the fourth time the linebacker that has long awaited his induction has been a semifinalist. He has also been a finalist on the previous two occasions.

Thomas is a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time All-Pro selection that accumulated 1,734 tackles, 20 1/2 sacks and 17 interceptions in his 13-year NFL career, 12 with the Dolphins. He anchored Miami’s great defenses of the late 1990s and early 2000s, along with defensive end Jason Taylor, who is already in the Hall of Fame, and cornerbacks Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain.

Fifteen finalists for the class will be revealed in January.

Thanksgiving meals distributed

The Dolphins fed more than 8,500 South Florida community members in a series of Thanksgiving meal distributions over the past week-plus.

The team collaborated with the Miami Dolphins Foundation, Football UNITES community partners, local minority-owned restaurants, team partners, Miami Gardens churches and dignitaries to feed those in-need in the days leading up to the holiday on Thursday.

“The Miami Dolphins are excited to make a year-round impact in our community, especially during Thanksgiving,” said Jason Jenkins, Dolphins senior vice president of communications and community affairs, in a statement. “These meals unite our community, and we recognize the additional need to not only support families, but local businesses during this time.”

Flores reflected on what he’s thankful for on Wednesday ahead of Thanksgiving.

“I think we all have a lot to be thankful for,” he said. “I’m thankful for my wife, my kids and my family. I’ll take this time to say that, how thankful I am for my wife and really all of the football wives.

“I’m thankful to be a part of this organization. I’m thankful for our support staff. I think we have a great staff from the medical, to nutrition, to equipment, to — you name it — IT, video. I think there are a lot of great people here. I’m thankful to work with all of them. And I’m thankful for the Dolphins fans and the community here and the support of our team.”