The Miami Dolphins got a mostly encouraging injury update Tuesday, but one rookie’s season is already over before it really began.
After the team’s first padded practice on Monday, coach Jeff Hafley said starting right tackle Austin Jackson is not dealing with anything long-term. Jackson exited practice early, another reminder of how often Miami has had to manage his availability, but Hafley said, “I do not see that being long-term. I see that being day to day.”
Hafley was asked directly what it means to be without Jackson, and he pointed to the rest of the roster as the immediate answer: “It forces us to evaluate what's there, right? You have no other choice at this point. Your roster is your roster, and it's a great time when he's not practicing to evaluate those other guys.”
Jackson will not practice Tuesday, but Hafley said he expects the veteran right tackle back sooner rather than later.
Miami may also be waiting a bit on one of Jackson’s potential fill-ins. Utility offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, signed in March, has missed the last two practices and is also being treated as day-to-day.
Salyer has been a steady presence early in his career, appearing in 13 or more games in each of his first four seasons, and he projects as the sixth lineman for this group. If both he and Jackson are sidelined for any stretch, that would be a real problem for the Dolphins up front.
Tight end Greg Dulcich is in a similar spot. He has sat out the last two practices, but Hafley said he doesn’t expect the absence to last long and thinks Dulcich should be back sometime around Miami’s first preseason game against the Washington Commanders on August 14.
Defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. is also listed as day-to-day. Johnson, who signed with the Dolphins in March, turns 31 this season and is expected to compete for an important role on defense. After moving to safety in 2024, he logged 321 defensive snaps for the Raiders last year.
The bad news landed with undrafted rookie defensive tackle Rene Konga, who will miss the season with an undisclosed injury. Konga was one of Miami’s more notable UDFA pickups, and the team guaranteed him $287,500 shortly after the draft after he earned 2025 second-team All-ACC honors. Hafley said Konga will “have to view this as a redshirt year," per Hafley.
In Other News...
Dolphins Suddenly Have A Real Question Behind Malik Willis
Quinn Ewers was always going to be one of the more interesting subplots of Dolphins camp, even before the quarterback depth chart shifted around him. Miami once had plans for the young passer to grow into the job in 2026, but the arrival of Malik Willis changed the immediate outlook and pushed Ewers into a more precarious spot as the backup fighting to stay relevant.
So far, though, the first five practices have not helped his case. Ewers has looked shaky enough to raise real concern about whether he can handle the No. 2 role as the summer unfolds, and if that pattern continues, Miami may have to weigh other options to stabilize the room behind Willis. For a team that thought it had a longer runway with Ewers, this is suddenly turning into a much shorter evaluation. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Suddenly Have A Right Tackle Concern They Can't Ignore
The Dolphins are heading into camp with a familiar problem at right tackle, and Kendall Lamm is one more reminder of how quickly the room can thin out. Miami let Lamms time in South Florida end after the 2024 season, and now the veteran lineman is moving on to another AFC contender while the Dolphins try to sort out a depth chart that already leans heavily on Austin Jackson.
For Miami, the concern is less about the starter than about what comes after him. The Dolphins have limited backup options on the tackle front, which makes the position feel a lot less secure than it did when Lamm was still around as a steady insurance policy. With training camp approaching, the question is how the team protects itself if the line has to absorb another setback. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Camp Takes A Tough Turn As Two Big Changes Hit
The Dolphins training camp got a jolt on two fronts, with coach Jeff Hafley offering a mix of injury news and organizational change on the same day. Defensive lineman Rene Konga will miss the season, while tight end Greg Dulcich is dealing with a minor injury and offensive tackle Austin Jackson remains day to day, leaving Miami to sort through a few early camp adjustments as it tries to keep the depth chart intact.
Off the field, the shift at the top is just as notable, with Tom Garfinkel stepping down from his roles as president and CEO while staying on as vice chairman. The move brings another layer of transition to an already busy stretch for the franchise, and the broader implications for football operations will be a point to watch as the Dolphins move deeper into camp. [Read more 🡒]