James Daniels is a student of the game.

Before Miami Dolphins minicamp practices last week, he could be found flipping through his notecards brushing up on plays or updating his Notability app with his formations.

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Daniels just recently joined the team after signing a three-year, $24 million contract in March, an unforeseeable-although-exciting twist for the Dolphins’ offense given Daniels’ Achilles injury in the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts game in Week 4 of the 2024 season.

But as he recovers from injury and looks to find his place on the Dolphins’ line, he wants to keep things in perspective.

“I’m in a great position. [The] Achilles was unfortunate, but there’s people in way worse positions, especially with what’s happening in [Los Angeles],” Daniels said, citing the ongoing protests in Los Angeles over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and deportations. “I don’t have to worry about my mom being deported, or my dad getting deported, or my wife getting deported. I’ve played a long time, I’ve made decent money, and so, there’s a lot [of] bigger issues that people have on their plate. So for me, going through an Achilles injury is pretty easy.”

Daniels’ sense of perspective might help explain why he has attacked his rehab — and his new playbook — with such intensity. Even while working his way back from injury, the veteran guard is making his presence felt on the Dolphins’ offensive line, both in the meeting room and on the field during individual drills.

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And it’s badly needed for the team.

The Dolphins’ offensive line struggled last season, contributing largely to the team’s offensive decline. The unit gave up 43 sacks and failed to generate consistent push in the run game. The challenge grew steeper when five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead retired and dependable backup Kendall Lamm signed with the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason.

“[Daniels is] a guy that has understood what his opportunity is here [and] understood how much we’re counting on him,” head coach Mike McDaniels said at last Wednesday’s minicamp practice.

While Daniels hasn’t been cleared for training camp yet from his rehab, he’s ready to step up to the challenge alongside rookie second-round pick Jonah Savaiinaea. According to Daniels, he’s “excited” to see Savaiinaea’s continued development.

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But where exactly each guy will go on the line remains unclear. Daniels could remain at right guard, where he played in Pittsburgh, earning a stellar 92.9 Pro Football Focus grade—second best among all NFL guards— in the four games he played in 2024 thanks to his dominant run blocking, no penalties, and just one sack allowed over 209 offensive snaps.

If that’s where he goes, he would likely team up with tackle Austin Jackson to form a strong wall on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side. However, the Dolphins might also consider shifting him to left guard, where his experience with the Chicago Bears could support second-year tackle Patrick Paul, the leading candidate to replace Armstead.

McDaniel’s main priority for the offensive line as of now, he said, is figuring out where Savaiinea fits in the picture as a rookie and then filling in the gaps around him.

“For James, he’s very capable of doing either side,” McDaniels said. “But when you have a rookie in the mix, you have to settle that first — settle down the rotation and movement of people all over the place, so you can get a realistic evaluation.”