Dolphins’ Fuller makes debut vs. Raiders. Roberts has TD at site of severe injury

In his first game as a Miami Dolphin, wide receiver Will Fuller nearly got to play the hero. Instead, he was at the center of a somewhat controversial overtime play in the Dolphins’ 31-28 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett took a deep shot to Fuller for the win on first-and-10 from the Raiders’ 40-yard line on the offense’s first drive in overtime. Fuller nearly capped his debut by hauling in a game-winning touchdown, but cornerback Trayvon Mullen stuck his arm in the way at the last moment — or maybe a moment early — to break up the pass and eventually force the Dolphins into a game-tying field goal in Las Vegas.

In the moment, Fuller beckoned for a flag that never came. If the officials threw a flag for defensive pass interference, the Dolphins would’ve gone to the 1-yard line and had four chances to win the game with a touchdown.

“It was a bang-bang [play],” Fuller said. “I feel like he got there a little early.”

Miami picked up 8 yards on its next two plays, and kicker Jason Sanders made a game-tying 50-yard field goal. The Raiders won the game by making a field goal on their next possession. The borderline call ultimately cost the Dolphins the game.

It was still a chance for Fuller, who came to Miami with a reputation as a deep threat, to showcase what he can give this offense this season. Fuller made his Dolphins debut Sunday after sitting out Week 1 to serve the final game of a suspension and missing Week 2 for personal reasons. He only caught three passes for 20 yards, but Brissett targeted him six times.

Fuller also converted a game-tying two-point conversion with two seconds left in regulation to force overtime at 25 when Brissett threw to him in the flat and Fuller beat the defensive back to the goal line.

It’s just another way he can perhaps give this offense a needed jolt moving forward.

“It was just mano a mano,” Fuller said. “They trusted me to win.”

Fuller wasn’t the only Dolphin to make his 2021 debut. Cornerback and 2020 first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene was also active after being inactive for the first two games of the season.

Wide receivers Preston Williams and Albert Wilson were inactive. Williams made his season debut last week and Wilson had played in the first two games of the season. Cornerbacks Trill Williams and Elijah Campbell, and offensive tackle Greg Little were also inactive.

Raiders starting running back Josh Jacobs was inactive because of an ankle injury. Las Vegas also deactivated safeties Dallin Leavitt and Roderic Teamer, defensive lineman Malcolm Koonce and Damion Square and tight end Nick Bowers.

Roberts has ‘full-circle moment’

Linebacker Elandon Roberts had a “full-circle” moment at Allegiant Stadium, the site of his season-ending knee injury last season, returning an interception 85 yards for a touchdown.

Roberts’ pick-six gave the Dolphins a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. He finished with five combined tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.

“It meant a lot,” Roberts said. “This place, I tore my ACL last year. It definitely meant a lot.”

Roberts sustained the injury in the Week 16 thriller in the 2020 season and did not play in the Week 17 finale against the Buffalo Bills. Although Roberts faced an arduous rehabilitation in the offseason, the Dolphins re-signed him to a one-year deal.

He started training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list but returned and beat out veteran addition Bernardrick McKinney, who was later released, to keep his starting spot next to inside linebacker Jerome Baker. Roberts, 27, was later voted a captain by his teammates.

“Great linebacker. … It’s kind of come full-circle for him,” tight end Mike Gesicki said.