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 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.

This story will be updated.