Jeff Hafley didn’t exactly offer a clean bill of health for Kenneth Grant, and that’s the kind of update that usually sets off alarm bells this time of year.
Speaking with the South Florida media before Tuesday’s practice, the Miami Dolphins head coach addressed a handful of injury situations, but the biggest uncertainty centered on the second-year defensive tackle. Grant’s status for Miami’s regular season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on September 13th is very much up in the air.
“He’s week-to-week, so, I think, of course there’s going to be concern [about his Week One availability]. If I felt like he was going to, for sure, be back next week, I would tell you that.
Am I hopeful he will be? Yeah.
But, there’s always going to be concern until I see a guy out there… Until he has his helmet and shoulder pads and he’s practicing with us, I’m going to have concern, for sure.”
That’s not the kind of language that suggests confidence. It sounds more like a coach bracing for the possibility that his defensive tackle may not be ready when the season kicks off.
Hafley’s comments leave Grant in a gray area, with the team still waiting to see how his rehab progresses. Whether the coach is simply being cautious or trying to send a message about how Grant has handled the process, the uncertainty is real.
And the longer Grant is out, the more the door opens for others. Jordan Phillips, Zeek Biggers and other players on the roster will get chances to climb the depth chart if Grant can’t get back on the field soon.
In Other News...
Dolphins Suddenly Have A QB Rumor Fans Cant Ignore
Todd Monkens decision to roll with Deshaun Watson as Clevelands starter for Week 1 immediately clarified one part of the Browns quarterback picture, but it also sharpened the attention on what comes next. With Shedeur Sanders listed behind him, the rookie now sits in a spot where his name is already drawing interest beyond Cleveland, and that kind of movement always gets league circles buzzing fast.
For Miami, the appeal is easy to understand. The Dolphins have been mentioned among the teams that could look into Sanders as a way to strengthen quarterback depth, and that sort of possibility tends to linger when a young passer is sitting behind a veteran. Nothing is settled yet, but if the Browns decide to listen, Miami figures to be one of the clubs keeping close watch on how this situation develops. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins May Be Forced Into Another Former First-Round Gamble
The Dolphins have been trying to patch up their linebacker depth as injuries keep forcing the front office to look for short-term solutions, and Kenneth Murray is now on the workout list. Miami has already shown a willingness to circle back on former first-round talent, with Jalen Reagor and Clelin Ferrell among the names the team has brought in before, so this kind of move would fit the pattern if the staff believes there is still enough upside to tap.
Murray, once a first-round pick of the Chargers, has also spent time with the Titans and Cowboys, which makes him another familiar reclamation project rather than a clean slate. The broader market is part of the story too, since there are other unsigned former first-round free agents under 30 still sitting out there, and Miami may not be done weighing whether a familiar name is the right stopgap for a defense that needs bodies as much as it needs certainty. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Pass Rush Problem Just Got More Urgent
The Dolphins got another look at their roster depth in their second preseason game, and the picture was not especially encouraging behind the starters. The issues showed up in a few places, but the lack of options at edge rusher stood out, especially for a team still sorting through its cornerback depth and leaning on promising rookie receivers to help shape the early part of the season.
Miamis need for another pass rusher only grew more pressing when Derek Barnett chose the Cleveland Browns, leaving the Dolphins with one fewer experienced option to consider. General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has been active in managing the roster, and the next move likely comes through the waiver wire as Miami keeps looking for ways to strengthen a pass-rushing group that suddenly feels thinner than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]