Dolphins’ Right Side Woes Deepen Ahead of Patriots Clash
The Miami Dolphins are facing a significant setback as they head into a crucial matchup against the New England Patriots. The team announced the placement of starting right tackle Austin Jackson on injured reserve, a move that compounds their offensive line challenges as he joins starting right guard James Daniels on the sidelines.
Injury Concerns Mount
With Jackson now on IR, the Dolphins will be without their starting right side for at least the next four games. This includes key matchups against the Patriots, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and Carolina Panthers. The earliest either player could return is for the Week 6 game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium.
Jackson’s injury stems from a toe issue that he sustained during the second half of the Dolphins’ disappointing 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in their season opener. This is not the first time the tackle has faced injury challenges; Jackson has spent significant time on IR in three of his four seasons since being drafted in the first round in 2020. The upcoming game against New England will mark the 26th contest he has missed due to injury since the beginning of the 2022 season.
Adjusting the Offensive Line
With Jackson sidelined, Larry Borom is set to step into the right tackle position against New England, while Kion Smith will likely take over at right guard. The Dolphins have additional options to consider, including Cole Strange and Daniel Brunskill for the right guard position, and veteran Kendall Lamm as a potential right tackle.
Furthermore, Andrew Meyer is eligible to come off IR following the Jets game in Week 4, coinciding with the timeline for 2021 second-round pick Liam Eichenberg’s return from the PUP list.
Defensive Adjustments
In a related move, the Dolphins have signed cornerback Cornell Armstrong from their practice squad to fill the vacancy left by Jackson. This decision suggests that Ethan Bonner will likely miss the game against the Patriots, joining Storm Duck on the inactive list. Armstrong will bolster the Dolphins’ secondary as the fifth cornerback available for the matchup, alongside Jack Jones, Rasul Douglas, Jason Marshall Jr., and JuJu Brents.
Practice Squad Elevations
In terms of practice squad elevations, the Dolphins have once again called upon running back Jeff Wilson Jr. and kicker Riley Patterson. This indicates that Jaylen Wright is not yet ready to return from the knee injury he suffered during training camp. Both Wright and Bonner were listed as doubtful in the final injury report, along with four others who have been ruled out: Jackson, Duck, defensive tackle Benito Jones, and tight end Darren Waller.
Despite previous comments from head coach Mike McDaniel regarding Waller’s potential season-ending risk, he remains on the active roster. With Waller unavailable, the Dolphins will rely on tight ends Julian Hill and Tanner Conner to share the workload in the game against New England.
As the Dolphins prepare to face their division rivals, the challenges on the offensive line and defensive adjustments will be critical factors in their quest for victory.
