Kyle Louis is back on the Miami Dolphins’ active roster after a knee injury interrupted his rookie season following the opener.
The Dolphins activated Louis from injured reserve Saturday ahead of Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. Miami also elevated kicker Zane Gonzalez and edge rusher Max Llewellyn from the practice squad.
Louis no longer carries a questionable designation on the team’s updated Saturday injury report, clearing another hurdle after he returned to practice this week.
His activation follows the clearance of Caleb Douglas and Jaylen Wright on Friday. For Louis, it provides an opportunity to resume a season that has included just one NFL appearance.
Kyle Louis returns after Jeff Hafley held off on a decision
Head coach Jeff Hafley had stopped short of confirming Louis’ availability during his Friday press conference, saying he wanted to evaluate the final practice before making a decision.
“Kyle, let me see today how he looks,” Hafley said. “I thought he did a nice job Wednesday and Thursday. Before I give you a final answer on that one, let me see how he does and how he looks today, and we’ll figure that out afterward.”
Miami placed Louis on injured reserve Sept. 16 and brought him back to practice Oct. 21. Saturday’s move puts him back on the roster rather than leaving him in the practice stage of his recovery.
The Dolphins selected Louis in the fourth round, No. 138 overall, out of Pittsburgh. He made his regular-season debut against Las Vegas before the knee injury sidelined him.
Louis had worked as a punt-team gunner before his injury and was projected on special teams as his likely initial assignment upon returning. That is a projection of his workload, rather than a role announced by the Dolphins.
His return gives Miami another special teams option while the staff determines how much defensive work he can handle after the layoff.
Zane Gonzalez and Max Llewellyn join the game roster
Gonzalez’s elevation follows Miami’s Tuesday decision to release Riley Patterson and sign Gonzalez to the practice squad. The veteran had spent the offseason and training camp with the Dolphins before rejoining the organization this week.
Llewellyn, a seventh-round selection out of Iowa, previously appeared in Miami’s Week 2 game at San Francisco. His elevation supplies another option on the edge with Rob Beal Jr. still doubtful because of a hamstring injury.
The Dolphins have cleared Louis, but two other defensive players remain uncertain or unavailable: Willie Gay Jr. is questionable with an illness, while cornerback Reese Taylor is out with a quad injury.
