Austin Jackson used a bounce-back 2023 season to score a solid extension. Midway through this year, however, another injury will place a high hurdle in the veteran blocker’s path.
Placed on IR on Monday, Jackson is now out for the season. Mike McDaniel confirmed Jackson will undergo knee surgery, via ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Beasley. This will mark a second season derailed by injury in three years, as an ankle malady sidelined Jackson for most of the 2022 slate.
This is obviously a tough blow to a Dolphins team that has dealt with injuries and some cost-related turnover up front over the past year. Miami did not re-sign Connor Williams, who had gone down late last season, and let Robert Hunt walk due to cost constraints this offseason. The Dolphins also have would-be left guard starter Isaiah Wynn on the PUP list; Wynn has been out for over a year. While Jackson got in a good 2023 season while the rest of Miami’s starting O-line ran into injury trouble, he has been in this boat before.
An ankle injury sustained in Week 1 of the 2022 season sidelined Jackson for 15 games, with a comeback attempt weeks later shutting him down for the season. The Dolphins roster high-end left tackle Terron Armstead, but the Pro Bowler has dealt with a litany of maladies during his time in New Orleans and Miami. Armstead has missed two games this season. Jackson had played in all but one game over the past two years.
The Dolphins drafted Jackson in the 2020 first round and did not pick up his fifth-year option. Jackson moved from left tackle to guard to right tackle during his time in Miami, settling at RT last year. His 2023 performance prompted the Dolphins to hand out a three-year, $36MM extension in December of last year. Jackson, 25, is signed through the 2026 season.
PFF has Armstead graded first among all tackles this season, one that comes after the former Saints mainstay considered retirement. Jackson ranks 56th. In preparation for a future without Armstead, the Dolphins drafted Patrick Paul in the second round. Miami, though, started veteran swingman Kendall Lamm in place of Jackson on Monday night.
Lamm, 32, has 38 starts on his resume and has been in McDaniel’s system for three seasons. It appears Paul is still being groomed, though he did make one start in place of Armstead earlier this season. This injury brings the Houston product closer to the starting lineup, but it looks like Miami will use Lamm as RT relief for the time being.