National Football League

Dolphins cut Sturgis and give kicking job to rookie Franks

Published Sep. 5, 2015 5:17 p.m. ET

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DAVIE, Fla. (AP) The Miami Dolphins will have undrafted rookies handle both their placekicking and punting this season.

Veteran Caleb Sturgis was cut Saturday, and the Dolphins gave the job to Andrew Franks. They earlier chose rookie punter Matt Darr over veteran Brandon Fields.

Sturgis made 29 of 37 field goals last season and ranked 28th in the NFL at 78 percent. Franks, who is from Rensselaer Polytechnic, went 16 of 25 as a senior and made three kicks of at least 50 yards.

''I'm incredibly grateful to Miami for giving me this opportunity to realize my dream,'' Franks said on Twitter. ''I'm looking forward to doing great things here.''

The Dolphins terminated the contract of quarterback Josh Freeman, as expected. He struggled in training camp and sealed his fate by throwing two interceptions in the final two minutes of the last exhibition game.

Freeman threw for 4,065 yards with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012, but hasn't played since October 2013.

At running back, rookie Jay Ajayi made the 53-man roster, and Miami and cut veteran Mike Gillislee.

The Dolphins kept seven cornerbacks, including veteran Will Davis, who had two interceptions in the final exhibition game. Veteran safety Don Jones was released.

Matt Hazel was kept as a sixth receiver. Others cut included offensive lineman Sam Brenner, who started four games in 2013.

Making the team - at least for now - were undrafted rookie linebackers Zach Vigil and Neville Hewitt.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

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Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine

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