Dolphins elevate a pair of players from practice squad for season opener vs. Patriots

The Dolphins have elevated wide receiver River Cracraft and rookie safety Verone McKinley III from the practice squad for Sunday’s season opener against the New England Patriots.

NFL rules allow teams to elevate up to two players from the 16-man practice squad to the game-day roster each week. A player on the practice squad can be elevated up to three times per season, up from twice last season.

Both Cracraft and McKinley were part of the team’s 90-man roster in training camp and were re-signed to the practice squad after being released in the final wave of cuts down to 53 players.

Cracraft originally signed to the team in February. A five-year veteran, Cracraft spent parts of the last two seasons with Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. Cracraft has seven career receptions for 85 yards, as well as experience as a return specialist. He emerged as a reliable pass-catcher during camp and caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the preseason finale.

McKinley originally signed with the team in April as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon. A college teammate of starting safety Jevon Holland, McKinley played 128 defensive snaps and 23 special teams snaps in the preseason, recording seven tackles. With veteran safety Eric Rowe questionable to play because of a pectoral injury, McKinley could contribute on special teams or see defensive snaps in sub packages.