MIAMI GARDENS — The Dolphins placed starting right tackle Austin Jackson on the injured reserve list Saturday, meaning he’ll have to miss at least four games due to the toe injury on his left foot that he sustained in training camp and aggravated in last week’s season-opening loss at Indianapolis.
Jackson’s extended absence is a big blow to the right side of the offensive line considering right guard James Daniels, their biggest free agent acquisition, is already on IR after sustaining a pectoral injury in the 33-8 loss at Indianapolis. Jackson and Daniels, of course, protect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side.
The Dolphins (0-1) host New England (0-1) at 1 p.m. Sunday in their home opener at Hard Rock Stadium and Patriots linebacker Harold Landry, who usually lines up over the right tackle, had 2.5 sacks in their season-opening loss to Las Vegas last week and also has had five sacks in three career games against the Dolphins.
Right guard Kion Smith and right tackle Larry Borom will start in place of Daniels and Jackson, the 2020 first-round pick who has battled injury issues for much of his career. In 2022, Jackson missed 15 games due to an ankle injury and last year he missed nine games due to a knee injury.
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The Dolphins will likely have all eight of their healthy offensive linemen active for Sunday’s 48-man active gameday roster. They usually have eight offensive linemen on the active game day roster, the five starters and three reserves. Last week’s reserves were Smith, Borom and center-guard Daniel Brunskill. With Jackson on injured reserve, they’re down to eight healthy offensive linemen on the active roster. Aside from Borom and Jackson they have starting center Aaron Brewer, starting left guard Jonah Savaiinaea and starting left tackle Patrick Paul. The active reserves will likely be Brunskill, tackle Kendall Lamm and newly-signed guard-center Cole Strange.
In other roster moves the Dolphins announced they’ve signed cornerback Cornell Armstrong to the active roster from the practice squad and elevated kicker Riley Patterson and running back Jeff Wilson Jr. from the practice squad.
Armstrong, signed to the practice squad Aug. 27, has nickel/slot cornerback capabilities as well as special teams talent.
Patterson and Wilson are being elevated for the second consecutive week. Both players have one more elevation before the Dolphins must either place them on the 53-man roster or release them.
Most likely Patterson will be released after next week’s Buffalo game on Thursday, leaving the Dolphins to acquire another kicker. The Dolphins think kicker Jason Sanders (hip) will be back reasonably soon. If not, the Dolphins would have placed Sanders on the injured reserve list, which would mean he’s sidelined for at least four games. Patterson didn’t attempt a field goal or an extra point last week.
Wilson played two snaps last week but didn’t get any carries. The Dolphins’ only healthy running backs on the 53-man roster are starting running back De’Von Achane and rookie Ollie Gordon II. Jaylen Wright is out with a knee injury but he practiced on a limited basis last week, indicating he might be ready to increase his practice participation next week.
