Austin

Jackson

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.

Jackson played in just two games last season after undergoing ankle surgery and has been woeful in his first three years when actually healthy enough to play. Declining this option was a no-brainer for the Dolphins. Jackson is set to enter the season as the team’s starting right tackle, as he was last year before the ankle kept him out most of the year.

Jackson played just two games last season and spent multiple IR stints dealing with an ankle injury. He wasn’t all that impressive when he was healthy, either, but Miami’s lack of draft capital will give the fourth-year former first-round pick yet another chance. It would be surprising if Jackson’s fifth-year option was picked up this offseason.

Jackson missed the Dolphins’ Week 13 contest against the 49ers, but will now miss at least four more games after being placed on injured reserve. Miami signed offensive tackle Eric Fisher on Monday, who will likely fill the void left by Jackson at right tackle after right tackle Brandon Shell allowed three pressures and one sack at the position in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers.

Not a great defense to suddenly find yourself leaking tackles against, the 49ers will be in town and Brandon Shell will either take over for Jackson at right tackle or play left tackle with Greg Little at right if Terron Armstead can’t go. SF’s D/ST is a risky play this week against the Dolphins, but there is some sack upside after Tua Tagovailoa went down four times in three quarters against the Texans.

It’s a pretty concerning injury for Miami with Terron Armstead also on the sideline. Jackson was on injured reserve with an ankle injury and this was his first game back. Greg Little took over for Jackson.