MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins right tackle Austin Jackson, who missed the second part of last season due to a knee injury, will be out for “weeks” due to a lower extremity injury, according to NFL Network.
The Dolphins’ backup offensive tackles — a group that includes Kion Smith, Larry Borom, Ryan Hayes, newly signed Jalen McKenzie and possibly Jackson Carman — have had shaky performances to this point in camp.
Jackson, who protects quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side, missed Saturday’s practice with an undisclosed ailment.
Jackson’s absence means the Dolphins, who saw center Aaron Brewer (soft tissue injury) participate in practice for the first time during training camp on Saturday on a limited basis, aren’t likely to have their starting offensive line together for the joint practices against Chicago and Detroit.
The Dolphins drafted a guard this year, Jonah Savaiinaea in the second round, but they didn’t draft an offensive tackle.
The injury bug has been bothersome so far in camp. The Dolphins have lost nickel cornerback Kader Kohou to a season-ending knee injury and safety Ashtyn Davis to a lower left leg injury. At the end of Saturday’s practice wide receiver Dee Eskridge grabbed his right hamstring area and left the field on a cart.
The Dolphins seemed to dodge a serious injury with edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who left Saturday’s practice early. Phillips said on social media he was leg whipped and it’s just a bruise.
Minkah stays busy
If you watch Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick during practice you might catch him doing drills with defensive backs, safeties, edge rushers or doing drills on his own.
Fitzpatrick, who has been one of the stars of training camp so far by both performance and leadership, probably does more drills than any other player and seems to manage to always stay busy.
“Honestly, it started for me when I was in college because in college I played every single position on the back end including linebacker sometimes, and that involves taking on a guard or a tackle in a box, sometimes that means I’m rushing off the edge and I’ve got to work against a tackle,” he said.
“And I’m not doing those things every single day or every play but when I’m called to do those things I want to be able to do them at a high level and not have the excuse of ‘Oh, I’m a DB (defensive back), I shouldn’t win this rep.’ Everything I do I want to do at a high level so whether it’s five minutes every day working with some elite edge rushers I’m going to do that.”
Fitzpatrick’s multi-skilled approach will come in handy in defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s system.
In practices on Friday and Saturday blitzes by defensive backs have had success. Safeties and cornerbacks have had free runs at quarterbacks because it appears the pass protection is either confused or hasn’t communicated effectively.
Fitzpatrick said part of the genius of Weaver’s system is that it sends pressure in many forms.
“Some places they send two or three of the same guys,” Fitzpatrick said. “Here it could be literally anybody. And it all comes from a similar look, so I think when offenses are lining up and see us they know that it could come from any direction. I think that gives them a little bit of angst and has them play a little bit more on their heels.”
Tyreek names Duck as a rising star
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill was asked which young cornerback has caught his eye, and he didn’t hesitate with the answer
“Storm (Duck),” he said. “He’s doing a great job. He’s been doing a great job. He’s really patient at the line of scrimmage. He’s strong. Real quiet, though. He’s humble and he wants to be great.”
Duck, undrafted in 2024 out of Louisville, has been one of the top performers in training camp and is building off of last season when he recorded 35 tackles and four passes defended in 14 games, including three starts.
McDaniel talks cornerbacks
McDaniel was asked Friday whether the Dolphins would bring in any of the available veteran cornerbacks such as Rasul Douglas, Stephone Gilmore, Asante Samuel Jr., or James Bradberry.
“We’re always looking at improving the roster,” he said. “I’m excited about the practice today and the way that players have been developing. I have more than enough to keep my attention, but we’re always one day away from making a move at any position because we’re constantly trying to improve the team and that’s part of it.”
Inside linebackers continue to shine
The inside linebackers crew, led by starters Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, and including backups Willie Gay Jr. and K.J. Britt, have been perhaps the top performing unit in camp along with the edge rushers.
They’ve made stuffed runs, covered running backs and tight ends and provided energy and big plays for the defense.
And they have strong credentials. Brooks led the team in tackles last year (143), Dodson led in interceptions (three) and Gay has been one of the best players in camp so far.
Britt, who had the loudest hit of camp when he stopped running back Ollie Gordon II on Friday, said he doesn’t stress about how he’ll get playing time in such a crowded picture.
“My job, and everybody else’s job, is just to come to practice every day, do your job, let people who make the call make the call,” he said. “But you can’t worry about stuff that you can’t control because then it just doesn’t go well. You just want to go one day at a time, do your job, and just be ready to play when your number is called.”
Originally Published: August 2, 2025 at 12:57 PM EDT