MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Tank Carradine is back with the Miami Dolphins.
The former Florida State defensive end re-signed with the Dolphins after Jonathan Ledbetter was placed on injured reserve, the team announced Thursday.
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"We just felt that was a one-for-one, end-for-end," Dolphins head coach Brian Flores told reporters.
Carradine originally signed with Miami in February but was released in August. He played in all four preseason games with the Dolphins, recording two tackles and five quarterback hits.
The 2013 second-round draft pick spent his first five NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He played for the Oakland Raiders last season.
"Tank's tough. He's physical. He's a good teammate,"Â Flores said. "We liked a lot of things about him, and we're happy to have him back."
The feeling was mutual.
"I'm excited to be back with the guys and be able to have another chance to go out there and compete," Carradine told reporters after practice.
Carradine had been training in Texas when he got the call from his agent. He said it was tough watching Miami's 59-10 drubbing to the Baltimore Ravens.
"It hurt because I knew that I wanted to be out there and compete with the guys," Carradine said. "I knew that I could have been out there helping that defense and the D-line. I knew they could have used a guy like me. I had to get over it. It hurt, but now I'm glad to be back and get another chance to compete and be able to go out there and play the New England Patriots."
Carradine said he arrived in South Florida about 1 a.m. Thursday. He was practicing with his teammates hours later.
"I didn't feel tired at all," Carradine said.
Ledbetter is an undrafted college free agent who made his NFL debut last weekend. He recorded four tackles, including one solo tackle, and half a sack.