Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Austin Jackson earned the workforce’s beginning proper sort out spot within the preseason, however lots has modified since then.
Jackson, the 2020 first-round decide, suffered a high-ankle sprain within the workforce’s opener, sending him to injured reserve. The following week, veteran sort out Brandon Shell was signed, initially to the apply squad. Shell labored his approach onto the lively roster and emerged as a strong proper sort out within the beginning lineup over the previous 4 video games. Two video games in the past, left guard Liam Eichenberg suffered a knee damage, sending him to IR as Jackson was reactivated.
The Dolphins have slowly eased Jackson again into apply. He labored in drills once more on Thursday after getting a session of restricted work final Friday, when Jackson was uncertain to play in opposition to the Bears, and finally didn’t. Jackson mentioned Thursday’s workload was essentially the most he’s carried out in apply since being designated to return.
“It feels good,” Jackson mentioned. “I’m excited to be back out there, doing my job. It’s been fun. It’s been a long time, and I’m just glad that everything is working out the way it should.”
The query now could be, the place does Jackson, after lacking Miami’s final eight video games, match as he will get nearer to a return?
“Our goal is to play the best five, and whatever combination that is, is what we’re going to try and put out there,” Miami offensive coordinator Frank Smith mentioned Thursday. “When it involves his return, we’ll consider that after we get there, however finally, proper now, our aim is simply to get him again to the apply subject, get him again to the sport subject.
“We’re just trying to make sure we get Austin ramped up in an appropriate way so we don’t have any setbacks. So, introduce him back in, slow ramp-up into getting ready for the game.”
It is probably not imminent for Jackson to return to being lively on sport day, and Shell’s play might give the veteran a maintain on proper sort out. Meanwhile, the Dolphins are utilizing backup lineman Robert Jones at left guard for Eichenberg. Left guard is the spot that Jackson performed largely in his second season after getting shifted in from left sort out, the place he was initially drafted to play.
“It’s definitely not ideal to switch positions out the blue, for any football player,” Jackson mentioned. “I’m definitely looking to play right tackle or wherever I can fit. That’s where I was at last time. There’s no plans of me switching, that I know of.”
Jackson added on Shell: “He’s done a great job at right tackle,” Jackson mentioned. “He’s a great dude, great football player, and I think he really fits in with our room.”
Smith felt Jones was serviceable in his first begin of the season after getting one as an undrafted rookie within the finale of the 2021 season.
“I thought he did a good job,” Smith mentioned of Jones. “I thought there were a couple of things, as far as making sure you’re looking at the right things, constantly working on technique as things move. Overall, we felt like he executed the game plan, was physical. Things that he needs to work on and improve on, he’s well aware of.”
Like Jackson, left sort out Terron Armstead additionally returned for his weekly Thursday apply as he nurses his toe damage.
Tight finish Hunter Long (concussion protocol/sickness) was the lone Miami participant to overlook Thursday drills. Defensive sort out Raekwon Davis (knee) was upgraded to full participation after being restricted Wednesday. Tight ends Durham Smythe (hamstring) and Tanner Conner (knee) and large receiver River Cracraft (sickness) had been restricted for a second consecutive apply.
Good and dangerous on particular groups
There was particular groups play and a foul particular groups play from Sunday’s win over the Bears that particular groups coordinator Danny Crossman supplied his ideas on Thursday.
First, the punt block for a landing the place Jaelan Phillips got here by means of to get his chest on the booted ball and Andrew Van Ginkel recovered it for the 25-yard landing.
“We liked some matchups, and the players did a great job of executing,” Crossman mentioned. “Jaelan almost got there too cleanly, almost overran it. And then great job by Andrew Van Ginkel with the scoop and score.”
But then, there was kicker Jason Sanders’ missed 29-yard subject aim on the finish of the half.
“Make no question, that’s a kick that has to be made. You can’t miss that kick,” Crossman mentioned.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel used the wind at Soldier Field as an excuse for Sanders, however Crossman didn’t give him that out on the sphere aim that was shorter than further level.
“Wind’s a factor in everything, but we got to make that kick,” he mentioned.
Salute to Service
With Veterans Day on Friday, Dolphins lengthy snapper Blake Ferguson is the workforce’s nominee for the NFL’s Salute to Service Award, which “acknowledges the exceptional efforts by members of the NFL community to honor and support U.S. service members, veterans and their families.”
“We have a history in my family of military service — both my granddads, my great uncle, my great grandad, my best friend was in the Air Force, served in Afghanistan,” mentioned Ferguson, whose brother, Reid, is the Buffalo Bills’ nominee. “I have a huge respect for what those men and women do when they go overseas to fight for our safety and for our freedom.”
Ferguson’s efforts vary from charity occasions to barbecues for native veterans. Last Thanksgiving, Ferguson helped distribute 800 Thanksgiving meals to Broward County’s army veterans and lively reserve members.
“I don’t take that lightly, but I also don’t do it for myself,” mentioned Ferguson, who was additionally Miami’s nominee final season. “I do it because I want to show the importance of the military, the armed forces in our South Florida community.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com