Austin

Jackson

Brewer has gotten All-Pro support this year with a career-high 85.9 PFF grade, so his potential return to the lineup after missing Week 17 would bode well for (apparently) Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon. Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks (hamstring), LB Chop Robinson (concussion), K Jason Sanders (right hip) and OL Austin Jackson (back) are all also questionable for Week 18.

Jackson joins OG James Daniels on injured reserve, meaning the Dolphins will now be without two starters along the offensive line for the foreseeable future. Early returns from this unit do not inspire confidence that the Dolphins will be able to return to their previous form after struggling throughout the 2024 campaign.

The Dolphins have now lost two starting offensive linemen in one week of action. Right guard James Daniels went on injured reserve earlier this week with a pec injury. Expect Mike McDaniel to dial up another quick-hitting passing attack to keep Tua Tagovailoa out of harm’s way in Week 2.

Miami will likely be without Jackson and RG James Daniels, who was placed on injured reserve this week with a pectoral injury. It’s a major blow to the Dolphins offense, which struggled mightily in their Week 1 blowout loss to Daniel Jones and the Colts. Tua Tagovailoa in Week 1 was pressured on just 22 percent of his drop backs, the third lowest rate in the league. The team’s quick-passing offense should prevent Tagovailoa from facing much pressure this week against New England.

Ifedi’s signing comes in the wake of an undisclosed injury to Austin Jackson. Head coach Mike McDaniel said Jackson should be ready in time for the start of the season, but Ifedi, who has 90 career starts under his belt, should provide plenty of insurance while Jackson works his way back. Ifedi started seven of the 15 games he appeared in last season for the Browns, earning a PFF offensive grade of 48.6 while playing almost exclusively at left tackle. He’ll presumably slot in on the right side of the line to replace Jackson in Miami.

Kendall Lamm stepped in for Jackson after he was placed on injured reserve prior to Week 10’s game against the Rams. Jackson finishes the year with a 64.3 PFF run block grade. He’s been mostly an average player at right tackle the last two years after starting his career as a sieve. Jackson has a $13.8 million cap figure next year and could save nearly $11.5 million if the Dolphins wanted to make him a post-June 1 cut. He’s still only 25, though, and unless the knee injury is more dire than we’ve seen reported so far, we’d expect him to come back as their right tackle in 2025. McDaniel said he expects Jackson to be ready for training camp in 2025.

Jackson was ruled out yesterday with a knee injury that has kept him from practicing this week. Mike McDaniel said it was possible that Jackson would need surgery. Kendall Lamm and Patrick Paul are two options that could play at right tackle in Jackson’s absence.

Wynn is working through a quad injury that has sidelined him throughout camp. The veteran tackle has dealt with injuries the last two seasons, appearing in just 16 of a possible 34 games. Wynn will not be eligible to return until Week 5, putting Austin Jackson in line to start at right tackle out of the gate.

The Dolphins had several offensive linemen out, with Armstead (knee/ankle), Liam Eichenberg (calf), Robert Hunt (hamstring), and Austin Jackson (oblique) missing Wednesday’s practice. Tight end Durham Smythe (ankle) was also limited, severely hampering the Dolphins’ offensive blocking. It is just the first practice report of the week, so several players could return to practice, but for now, the Dolphins’ offensive line is banged up heading into Week 16.

Jackson’s deal is worth up to $39 million. The veteran tackle is now under contract through 2026 and will continue to protect the blindside of left-handed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Jackson has appeared in 44 games since the Dolphins drafted him at No. 18 overall in 2020 and had his 2022 season cut short by an ankle injury. This season, he’s appeared in all 12 of the Dolphins games and has earned a PFF pass-blocking grade of 70.0.