Jackson is a good kid, who can’t seem to stay healthy
Miami Dolphins right tackle Austin Jackson is set to miss several weeks of training camp due to a lower-body injury sustained during practice on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Is it a reinjury of last year’s injury, an aggravation of the injury he picked up in OTAs, or a new injury, we don’t know.
Whatever the case is, even though the team remains hopeful for his return by the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, his Week 1 availability is now in question.
Phins thin offensive line took a hit
Jackson, a former first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has faced injury challenges in recent seasons. He missed the final eight games of the 2024 season due to a knee injury that required surgery. Prior to that, he missed 15 games in 2022 with multiple injuries. Despite these setbacks, Jackson signed a three-year, $36 million extension in December 2023, solidifying his role as a key component of the Dolphins’ offensive line. Also, some of that money was rolled into 2026 with guarantees this offseason.
With Jackson sidelined, the Dolphins are turning to their depth chart to find a suitable replacement. Veterans Larry Borom and Kion Smith, along with rookie Jonah Savaiinaea, are among the candidates to step in at right tackle. The team is also exploring potential free-agent options to bolster their offensive line depth.
Dolphins are thin at backup tackle options
And they’d better, neither Smith or Borom inspire much confidence and given Jackson’s history he could very well get hurt again when he returns. Dolphins need a real option as a swing tackle, but will Grier pull the trigger on a quality backup?
You can bet with the best pay per head that Phins fans will eagle-eye Jackson’s recovery and Grier’s moves to bring in a backup. Jackson’s return to full health is crucial for the team’s offensive line stability and for providing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, even if Jackson isn’t a great starter. That’s the sad part, Jackson isn’t good but he’s far better than all the other options.
