Tag: Austin Jackson

Dolphins place Liam Eichenberg on IR, activate Austin Jackson

One offensive lineman in and one out.

With all of the injury issues that the Miami Dolphins have dealt with through eight games, the team made a few roster moves on Tuesday.

The Dolphins announced that they’ve placed left guard Liam Eichenberg on injured reserve after it was reported that he suffered an MCL injury during the Week 8 game vs. the Detroit Lions. Eichenberg will be forced to miss four games, but that stretch also includes a bye week, so the earliest that he could return would be Dec. 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14.

Miami is also returning Austin Jackson from injured reserve, as an ankle injury landed him there after the season opener against the New England Patriots. It’s unclear when Jackson will actually return to action, but when he gets back, there’s a chance that he could slide back in at left guard with Eichenberg out and Brandon Shell performing pretty well at right tackle.

Practice squad quarterback Reid Sinnett was also released, now that all three quarterbacks on the active roster are healthy.

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Mike McDaniel updates on LG Liam Eichenberg, RT Austin Jackson

Two of Miami’s offensive linemen have been dealing with injuries.

The Miami Dolphins have been dealing with some bad injury luck halfway through their 2022 campaign, but the team got some good news on Monday.

First, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that left guard Liam Eichenberg, who was carted off of the field during Sunday’s victory over the Detroit Lions, suffered an MCL injury. It was originally feared that the injury could’ve been a season-ending injury, but he should be able to return from this.

During his media availability, head coach Mike McDaniel provided an update to the report.

“I can confirm that it was definitely on the positive side of bad news that he got hurt, but it was a pleasant surprise that we were getting various opinions,” McDaniel said. “We know he was going to miss some time, but there wasn’t an injury to all the CL’s, as they call them in the biz as we kind of feared. We’re getting more information. We know he’s going to be out. We just don’t really know how long it’ll be.”

On the right side of the line, Austin Jackson has been held out since Week 1 with an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve. Jackson has just a few days remaining on his 21-day window to be activated, and if he isn’t he’ll miss the remainder of the year.

However, McDaniel said that he’ll return to practice again this week.

“Some point this week obviously he will return,” McDaniel said. “We’re just going to be taking it day by day and for me, I’m going to be ultra-conservative and see it as very unlikely that I would let him go out there and play this week, but that process of returning will start and we’ll take it day by day with that.”

There’s no guarantee that Jackson gets his job back when he’s healthy. Brandon Shell, who has spent the last few games at right tackle, has looked like a solid veteran in that role.

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Mike McDaniel provides injury updates on Terron Armstead, Austin Jackson

May we see them this week?

When Miami Dolphins right tackle Austin Jackson went down during the team’s season opener against the New England Patriots, Greg Little was able to step up and was serviceable. However, when Terron Armstead then went down during the Week 5 matchup with the New York Jets, the line began to break down.

Little eventually flipped over to the left side on Sunday to fill in for Armstead, and he received an abysmal 1.5 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus.

Now, everybody wants to know when Miami’s anchors on the outside will be back. On Monday, head coach Mike McDaniel provided a small update on the topic.

“With both guys for individual reasons – I feel good about where Armstead got without playing in the game,” McDaniel said. “I thought that helped him and he’s a guy that as he works through this stuff, he’ll be day to day. But I know he really, really wants to be out there and I’m fully confident that if he’s capable, he’ll be out there. So I would say it was a step in the right direction for him not to play because he had been gritting through a lot of stuff. So I feel good about that.

“With Austin, we’re really, when you think about a high-ankle sprain or a low-ankle sprain or really anything with an ankle; that for an offensive lineman, is a tough injury. You can feel better, but then now you have to go lean on a 300-pound individual and try to displace them. And that force from ground up is challenging. He didn’t have any setbacks, so I feel good about that.

“It’s more about being judicious with that process so we don’t put himself in a position where he has any setbacks moving forward, or he doesn’t all of a sudden, we put him in a position where he’s super vulnerable in a game and isn’t able to complete it, which is tough with the active roster selection. So we’ll be monitoring that and a lot of guys have gotten good reps and are getting better in their place so hopefully we’ll get one or two of them back this week. If not, we’ll just keep getting better with the players on the field.”

Jackson returned to practice last week, starting his 21-day window to be activated from injured reserve. If he’s not back by the end of the three weeks, he will be forced to miss the remainder of the season.

One guy who’s really looking to get Armstead and Jackson back is right guard Robert Hunt, who spoke about their absence on Monday.

“It would be exciting to get those guys back but like we’ve been saying, it’s always the next man up mentality,” Hunt said. “Unfortunately, injuries happen in this league and some guys can’t go, and that’s been the case for those two guys and guys have stepped up. I think guys have done a good job stepping up, playing well. So you know that is what it is. If they come back, man we’ll be fired up and if they can’t go because of something that’s going on with their body, we got to understand that and the next one is up.”

Hopefully, with an extra week of rest, Miami’s two tackles with be back on the field against Pittsburgh.

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Dolphins plan to start RT Austin Jackson’s 21-day return window this week

Mike McDaniel expects him to begin practicing this week.

The Miami Dolphins have had injuries at both of their offensive tackle spots early this season with Terron Armstead leaving their Week 5 matchup and Austin Jackson spending four weeks on injured reserve.

However, there may be some good news when it comes to Jackson’s recovery from an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve after the season opener. On Monday, head coach Mike McDaniel announced that the team plans to get Jackson practicing this week which will start his 21-day practice window for a return.

If Jackson isn’t activated by the end of the 21-day window, he’d be forced to miss the remainder of the season. This must mean he’s close to being back, but it might not be this week against the Minnesota Vikings.

Greg Little has been filling in at right tackle during Jackson’s absence, and it hasn’t exactly been perfect. Pro Football Focus has him with a 34.2 overall grade, allowing 16 pressures and one sack.

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Dolphins placing RT Austin Jackson on IR

He’ll miss at least four games.

The Miami Dolphins have a lot up in the air with injuries heading into their Week 2 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, but at least one of the questions has been answered.

Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Friday that right tackle Austin Jackson, who is dealing with an ankle injury, is being placed on injured reserve. This designation will result in at least four missed games by Jackson, who will now be eligible to return in Week 5 against the New York Jets.

With left tackle Terron Armstead also limited with a toe injury, his status is also up in the air, but, for now, it looks like like Greg Little will be protecting Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side.

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Mike McDaniel provides injury updates on two Dolphins after Week 1

Both could miss some time.

During Sunday afternoon’s victory over the New England Patriots, the Miami Dolphins suffered two injuries that kept players out for the remainder of the game.

In the second quarter, right tackle Austin Jackson went down with an ankle injury, forcing swing tackle Greg Little into the game. Jackson didn’t return.

Then, just a few minutes later, tight end Cethan Carter suffered a head injury in kick coverage. The injury appeared to be pretty serious, as it took Carter some time to get to his feet before being carted back to the locker room.

On Monday, head coach Mike McDaniel provided updates on both players.

“He stayed in uniform and could’ve gone back in, in an emergency situation,” McDaniel said of Jackson. “It’s serious enough that we’re getting some more eyes on it. We’ll be continuing along the process to have the best medical information on him moving forward. To be determined.”

Little would likely start if Jackson isn’t able to go against the Baltimore Ravens this week, but Miami may consider elevating one of their practice squad tackles or signing a free agent as well.

“He’s in the concussion protocol,” McDaniel said of Carter. “You guys know how that goes. That is, of all things, the most case-by-case basis. We’ll be taking it as such moving forward.”

Carter’s role is primarily on specials, so the Dolphins don’t need to necessarily replace his snaps with another tight end. However, this is something to watch, as it’s at least the third concussion in the last four seasons.

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Dolphins RT Austin Jackson leaves Week 1 game with injury

He was replaced by Greg Little.

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The Miami Dolphins suffered their first injury of the 2022 NFL season, and it came at an important position.

In the second quarter in the season opener against the New England Patriots, Dolphins right tackle Austin Jackson was rolled up on by fullback Alec Ingold. While Jackson stayed in for the next play, he then went to the sideline and was taken into the blue injury tent.

After some evaluation, he was taken back to the locker room, and the team announced that the injury is to his ankle.

In his place, the Dolphins have turned to backup swing tackle Greg Little. With Tua Tagovailoa being a left-handed quarterback, the right tackle spot will be something to watch going forward.

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15 Dolphins to watch during joint practices with the Eagles

15 Miami Dolphins to watch during joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles at Baptist Health Training Complex

After trimming the roster down to 80 players on Tuesday, the Eagles are in Miami for two days of joint practices with the Dolphins before the preseason finale on Saturday night.

Philadelphia’s improved defense will face a test against the speedy and athletic Miami offense that features Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle on the outside.

On offense, quarterback Jalen Hurts will look to continue building chemistry with his group of receivers, and he’ll have to prove himself against a talented group of Miami defenders.

With the first practice set to begin, here are 15 Dolphins to watch over the next few days.

Dolphins QB, OL and specialist ratings in Madden NFL 23

Only one player from the groups made it into the top 10 for their position.

With the end of another NFL offseason in sight, football fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the newest installment of the Madden video game series, Madden 23.

After the release of every other position group’s ratings, EA Sports, the publishers of the game, finished the week by putting out quarterback, offensive line and specialist ratings on Friday. The Dolphins only had one player in any of those groups make it into the top 10 at their position.

Here’s a look at most of Miami’s quarterback, offensive line and specialist ratings for launch and how they compare to other players at the same position:

  • Terron Armstead – 93 overall (No. 4 LT)
  • Thomas Morstead – 80 overall (No. 7 P)
  • Tua Tagovailoa – 75 overall (t-No. 22 QB)
  • Teddy Bridgewater – 75 overall (t-No. 22 QB)
  • Jason Sanders – 75 overall (t-No. 17 K)
  • Robert Hunt – 74 overall (t-No. 16 RG)
  • Connor Williams – 73 overall (t-No. 18 C)
  • Liam Eichenberg – 68 overall (t-No. 30 RT)
  • Solomon Kindley – 68 overall (t-No. 33 RG)
  • Austin Jackson – 67 overall (t-No. 41 LT)
  • Greg Little – 67 overall (t-No. 41 LT)
  • Michael Deiter – 64 overall (t-No. 43 C)
  • Robert Jones – 63 overall (t-No. 49 LG)
  • Kellen Diesch – 62 overall (t-No. 52 LT)
  • Skylar Thompson – 57 overall (t-No. 80 QB)
  • Larnel Coleman – 57 overall (t-No. 69 RT)
  • Adam Pankey – 54 overall (t-No. 77 RT)

EA Sports also announced the team and unit ratings. Miami’s offense was rated a 79, the defense was rated an 84 and special teams was rated an 80. Overall, the team was given an 83.

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2022 Dolphins positional preview: The offensive line is improved, but there are still questions

There are still two questionable spots.

The 2021 edition of the Miami Dolphins got one of the worst offensive line performances among all of the teams in the NFL.

Between inexperienced coaches and poor effort, the line wasn’t able to protect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa or get any push for the team’s running game. As a result, the offense struggled to string drives together, keeping them from a postseason birth for the fifth straight season.

With the Dolphins ready to hit the field for training camp near the end of the month, it’s as good of a time as any to assess the roster. We’ve touched on quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends, so, today, we’re focusing on the big men up front.