The Miami Dolphins were awarded the rights to cornerback Dimitri Patterson today, claiming him from the Cleveland Browns. MIami needs cornerback depth with starting cornerback Nolan Carroll injured and possibly out for the remainder of the year with a knee injury.

The Dolphins currently have Sean Smith, Jimmy Wilson, Bryan McCann, and R.J. Stanford as healthy cornerbacks. Wilson has been used as both a cornerback and safety this year, with the team moving him to safety in the offseason after he played corner his rookie season.

Patterson appeared in seven games this season for the Browns, starting four. He had five passes defensed with 28 tackles. The Dolphins take over Patterson's contract, which has two more years, with $4.5 million due to him in 2013 and $5.3 million in 2014.

He was born in Miami, attending college at Southeast Missouri State University before transferring for his senior year at Tuskegee University.

Miami plays the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots in the final two games of the season.