MIAMI GARDENS — The process for second-year Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Kenneth Grant to approach a return took another step Wednesday.

Grant, the Dolphins’ 2025 first-round pick, officially had his practice window opened, as coach Jeff Hafley previously said he would, as he looks to come back from his preseason lower-leg injury, which placed him on injured reserve to start the season and was revealed on the Wednesday injury report to be to a toe.

“I’m excited for him. He had a big smile on his face coming out for the walkthrough (Wednesday). I can feel that joy from him. I think his teammates do, too,” Hafley said before Wednesday drills. “He’s attacked his rehab. He’s been such a positive guy, and I’m excited that he’s able to come back out, for him.”

Grant has already missed the minimum four games on IR. He is eligible to be activated off IR ahead of Sunday’s upcoming home game against the Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) if the week of practice goes well. That would take an accelerated ramp-up as he hasn’t practiced in roughly two months.

“Let’s just watch (Wednesday), see how he does, and we’ll progress from there,” Hafley said. “Just really excited to get him back practicing (Wednesday). Don’t know exactly where he’s going to be at, because he has not played football. So, hopeful that he gets back into the groove of where I thought he was trending the last few days we had him.”

Grant’s return offers the new regime of Hafley and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan an opportunity to finally evaluate him in earnest this season.

“To me, it was more about when I got to see him in person, rather than what I saw on tape,” Hafley said about evaluating him. “I like the way he’s progressing. He was starting to play with the play style that we were asking to. I thought he had a quickness to him. I thought he gave us a different body type on the inside. And I thought he’d be good against the run and help us out in the pass game. Smart player, good instincts.”

Dolphins rookie left guard Kadyn Proctor faced Grant, who was officially listed as limited on the injury report, during Wednesday drills and reported he looked great.

“He’s looking very powerful,” Proctor said. “You can’t even tell that he’s going through injuries.”

Miami’s defensive line has leaned on fellow second-year defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and veteran Zach Sieler, along with 2025 seventh-round pick Zeek Biggers, who can also flex out to defensive end. While defensive tackle Keith Cooper Jr. was also with the unit the first three games, he has since been relegated to the practice squad. In Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings, practice squad defensive tackle Mazi Smith was elevated.

“It allows us to move some pieces around to help us in some certain situations,” Hafley said. “It just gives us more flexibility, more versatility, and it gives us another good player.”

Douglas not ready

After missing the past two games with an injured ankle, rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas again missed drills to start the week of preparation for the Bengals. He did not practice Wednesday, as Hafley said would be the case prior to the session.

“He’s one day at a time and getting better, but it’s just not there (Wednesday),” Hafley said.

Douglas hurt the ankle in the Sept. 20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. If he misses Sunday’s game at Hard Rock Stadium, he’ll be out a month, as the Dolphins have a bye week to follow.

Along with Douglas, defensive end Rob Beal Jr. (hamstring), cornerback Reese Taylor (quadriceps) and linebacker Jackson Woodard (ankle) did not practice either.

The good news is safety Dante Trader Jr. was practicing after hurting his knee in Minnesota but returning to the game. The injury report only listed him as receiving treatment on the shin, though, and he was limited. Also limited Wednesday were cornerback JuJu Brents (heel), tackle Austin Jackson (knee), wide receiver Chris Bell (knee) and long snapper Tucker Addington, who as again in a red, non-contact jersey to protect his ailing shoulder.

Cornerback Storm Duck participated in full, starting off his second week of practice and first where he’s eligible to be activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list recovering from his offseason knee procedure.

Safety Kyle Louis and linebacker Ronnie Harrison Jr., who are both on IR, were seen working out on the side of drills.

For the Bengals, neither standout wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (concussion) nor Tee Higgins (groin/neck) practiced. Also not practicing were safeties Kyle Dugger (quadriceps) and Bryan Cook (ankle), defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (rest/knee) and linebacker Swayze Bozeman (groin).

Practice squad moves

The Dolphins signed running back Carlos Washington Jr. back onto the practice squad Wednesday after waiving him from the active roster Monday and then having him clear waivers Tuesday.

Washington was signed to the 53-man roster last Saturday ahead of Sunday’s game in Minnesota, but he did not play as the third tailback behind Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright. Washington could still theoretically be elevated from the practice squad for this Sunday’s game against the Bengals, especially if Grant ends up taking up the roster spot after his first week of practice.

On Tuesday, the Dolphins signed edge defender Eric Watts to the practice squad and released Amari Gainer from said practice squad.