NFL Player News

Sanders converted seven of eight field-goal attempts during Sunday's 22-21 loss to the Jets.

Sanders accounted for all 21 of Miami's points during Sunday's divisional loss, and his seven successful field goals broke the previous franchise record of six set by Olindo Mare in 1999. The second-year pro's outstanding day comes following a Week 13 showing in which he caught a touchdown, becoming the first kicker to do so in more than 40 years. While Sanders can't be counted upon to make franchise history every week, it's certainly encouraging to see him being utilized as a key fixture of a Dolphins' offense that's provided more regular scoring opportunities as of late. He's got a favorable matchup against the Giants on deck Week 15.

Folk will be the Patriots' starting kicker for Sunday's matchup against the Chiefs, Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal reports.

Folk didn't play in Week 13's loss to the Texans after undergoing an appendectomy, but his replacement -- Kai Forbath -- didn't perform well in Folk's stead. As a result, Folk will resume his duties. The 35-year-old has connected on seven of nine field-goal tries this year with his only misses coming during brutal conditions Week 12 versus Dallas.

Folk (abdomen) re-signed with the Patriots on Saturday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Folk, who underwent an appendectomy nine days ago and was subsequently released, will rejoin the Patriots in a move that was foreshadowed by the team's decision not to carry a kicker on its active roster as of Friday. Folk went 7-for-9 on field-goal attempts in his three-week stink with the Patriots in early November.

Folk (abdomen) worked out for the Patriots on Friday and is expected to re-sign with the team and serve as their kicker Week 14 versus the Chiefs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Though coach Bill Belichick was non-committal Friday when asked if Folk would be brought back following his release a week earlier, the Patriots apparently were satisfied with the veteran kicker's health following his recent appendectomy. New England will likely officially announce Folk's re-signing at some point prior to Saturday's 4 p.m. ET deadline for Week 14 transactions. Prior to his release after he required the emergency procedure, Folk had converted seven of nine field-goal attempts and all three of his extra-point tries in three games.

Folk (abdomen) has yet to receive medical clearance to resume kicking and may not be ready to sign with the Patriots in advance of their Week 14 game against the Chiefs, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported earlier Friday that Folk was in line to re-sign with New England after the team waived him last week when he required an appendectomy, but Rapoport backed down on that initial report shortly thereafter. Apparently, Folk was slated to kick Friday as a test of his health, but the Patriots ultimately concluded the day without a kicker on their roster, per Nora Princiotti of The Boston Globe. New England will have until Saturday at 4 p.m. ET to add a kicker to their roster ahead of Sunday's game, with Reiss suggested the recently waived Kai Forbath could be re-signed if the team isn't confident in Folk's health. Alternatively, New England could eschew a roster move entirely and instead turn to punter Jake Bailey to pull double duty on special teams.

McLaughlin will serve as the Colts' kicker Week 14 against the Buccaneers after Adam Vinatieri was ruled out with a knee injury, Mike Wells of ESPN.com reports.

As anticipated, McLaughlin will step in to kick for his third different team this season after Vinatieri's knee injury prevented him from practicing Thursday and Friday. The Colts haven't yet determined if Vinatieri will be available again this season, as coach Frank Reich said Friday that the veteran is viewed as week-to-week, per Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star.

Coach Jason Garrett suggested Maher could lose his job after another poor showing in Thursday's 31-24 loss to the Bears, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports. "We decided to give Brett an opportunity this week," Garrett said Friday. "It didn't work out. So we have to take a real close, hard look at that."

The Cowboys brought in three kickers at the beginning of the week but decided not to sign any of them. Maher then failed to connect on a field goal Thursday, pushing his league-high total to 10 misses for the season. Impressive leg strength may not be enough to save his job this time around, with the Cowboys presumably hoping to find someone more reliable.

The Patriots are expected to re-sign Folk (abdomen) ahead of Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

New England cut Folk last week after he required an emergency appendectomy that would have made him unavailable for the team's eventual loss to the Texans, but the veteran kicker has apparently since recovered from the procedure. He'll presumably be added to the 53-man roster prior to Saturday's deadline as the replacement for Kai Forbath, who was released after a one-week stint with the team. Folk previously kicked in three games for New England, going 7-for-9 on field-goal attempts while knocking down all three of his point-after tries.

Pineiro converted his only field-goal attempt in the Bears' 31-24 win over the Cowboys on Thursday.

Pineiro was good from 36 yards on his lone field-goal try, and he's now made four-straight field goals. However, his seven-point effort was the most points he's scored in a game since Week 8, and his low floor makes him very difficult to trust in the fantasy playoffs.

McLaughlin is expected to serve as the Colts' kicker Week 14 against the Buccaneers after Adam Vinatieri (knee) expressed doubt about his availability for Sunday's game, Mike Wells of ESPN.com reports. "I don't have an answer," Vinatieri said, when asked Thursday about his status for Week 14 and the rest of the season. "I don't know. We'll see how [the injured knee] feels [Friday] and the next day and the next day."

After experiencing increased discomfort in his left knee, Vinatieri was listed as a limited practice participant on the Colts' first injury report of Week 14, prompting Indianapolis to put in a waiver claim for McLaughlin later that day. Vinatieri underwent an MRI on Thursday, but the Colts are still awaiting the results of the tests before commenting on his availability moving forward. Given that the 46-year-old has already missed a total of 14 kicks (eight field goals, six extra points) and is now in shaky health, McLaughlin could end up holding the job the rest of the season even if Vinatieri's health improves. Though he's been cut by the Chargers and 49ers this season, McLaughlin has been effective during his time with both squads, converting 13 of 17 field-goal tries and all 15 of his extra-point attempts.