National Football League

Dolphins kicker Sturgis, battling to keep job, will miss Saturday's game

Published Aug. 19, 2014 10:59 a.m. ET

Alex Marvez

One day after Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin declared that his team’s kicking spot is up for grabs, FOX Sports has learned that the incumbent isn’t ready to compete for his job.

A source told FOX Sports that Caleb Sturgis will miss Saturday’s preseason game against Dallas because of a groin ailment. Sturgis, who was hurt early in training camp, reinjured himself in pregame warm-ups before last Saturday night’s matchup against Tampa Bay.

Sturgis hopes to kick in Miami’s preseason finale Aug. 28 against St. Louis, the source said.

John Potter replaced Sturgis against the Buccaneers and connected on field goals of 51 and 48 yards. Potter spent six games in 2012 with Buffalo and three last season in Washington, where he made three of four field goal attempts.

A former University of Florida standout, Sturgis has struggled with groin injuries in Miami since being a 2013 fifth-round draft pick. Sturgis made his first 10 attempts last year but went 16-for-24 the rest of the season.

Asked by local media about how much uncertainty he had about who would be kicking in the regular-season opener Sept. 7 against New England, Philbin said, “We’ll see. We’ve got a lot of time … We’re open to anything. We haven’t named any kicker. I don’t know who’s going to be kicking for the New England game yet.”