Jeff Hafley Shares Dolphins Training Camp Updates on Injuries, Willis & Team Progress
The Miami Dolphins continued training camp on Tuesday, and head coach Jeff Hafley met with the media to provide updates on several injured players while also sharing his thoughts on the team’s progress through the first week of camp.
From Austin Jackson‘s status to Malik Willis‘ development and the physical identity Hafley wants his defense to have, the Dolphins head coach covered a wide range of topics.
Austin Jackson, Jamaree Salyer Among Several Players Considered Day-to-Day
The biggest concern entering practice centered around starting right tackle Austin Jackson, who exited Monday’s session early.
Fortunately for the Dolphins, Hafley doesn’t believe Jackson’s issue is serious.
“I do not see that being long term,” Hafley said. “I see that being day to day.”
The same goes for offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer and tight end Greg Dulcich, who have also missed recent practices. Hafley expects Dulcich to return around the team’s Washington preseason game timeline, while Salyer is also considered day-to-day.
Defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. is dealing with a short-term injury as well.
The only significant injury announcement involved rookie linebacker Rene Konga, who will miss the entire season.
Hafley called it a “redshirt year” for the young linebacker and praised Konga’s work ethic before suffering the injury.
Opportunity for Offensive Line Depth
With Jackson sidelined, the Dolphins are getting an extended look at their backup offensive tackles.
Hafley acknowledged the situation isn’t ideal but believes it’s valuable for evaluating the depth behind Jackson.
“It forces us to evaluate what’s there,” Hafley said. “Your roster is your roster.”
Miami struggled at times protecting the quarterback after Jackson left Monday’s practice, making this an important stretch for the team’s reserve linemen.
Malik Willis Showing Noticeable Progress
One of the biggest positive developments through the first week of camp has been the continued improvement of quarterback Malik Willis.
According to Hafley, Willis has become more comfortable running the offense and is beginning to develop chemistry with his teammates.
The head coach pointed to several encouraging signs:
The football is coming out quicker.
Willis is making decisions faster.
He’s throwing with more confidence.
He’s becoming a vocal leader by communicating with receivers between plays.
He’s spending extra time discussing route concepts and defensive looks with teammates like Malik Washington.
Hafley stressed there’s still plenty of work ahead but likes the direction Willis is trending.
Kadyn Proctor Continues to Impress
Rookie first-round offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor continues to earn praise from his head coach.
Hafley highlighted Proctor’s incredible hustle on an interception return Monday, where the massive offensive lineman sprinted nearly the length of the field trying to prevent a defensive touchdown.
He also praised Aaron Brewer, who joined Proctor in chasing down the play.
For Hafley, those effort plays represent something much bigger than athletic ability.
He believes they show complete buy-in from the entire roster and reinforce the culture he’s trying to build in Miami.
Rather than hanging their heads after turnovers, offensive players are sprinting to help their teammates recover the football or prevent scores.
The Physical Identity Hafley Wants
Asked what qualities define one of his cornerbacks, Hafley didn’t hesitate.
He wants physical football players.
Specifically, he refuses to accept cornerbacks allowing wide receivers to sustain blocks.
“If you ever show me a corner who’s engaged with the receiver and he’s letting that receiver block him and he stays blocked, that’s not okay with me,” Hafley explained.
To Hafley, tough cornerbacks usually indicate a tough football team.
He made a similar comparison to wide receivers who consistently block downfield, saying those teams often possess a physical culture throughout the roster.
Zach Sieler Does More Than Record Sacks
While Zach Sieler’s sack numbers often grab headlines, Hafley believes his impact goes far beyond the stat sheet.
The Dolphins coach compared Sieler to a point guard in basketball.
Instead of focusing solely on sacks, Hafley emphasized how often Sieler creates opportunities for teammates by executing stunts, occupying blockers and sacrificing personal statistics for the benefit of the defense.
“If we counted assists,” Hafley joked, “I think he’d be one of the assist leaders in the NFL.”
It’s another example of the unselfish style Hafley wants his defense to embrace.
Malik Washington’s Route Running Standing Out
Wide receiver Malik Washington has impressed Hafley in ways beyond his ability with the football in his hands.
The coach praised Washington’s attention to detail as a route runner, noting he’s expanding his game beyond quick screens and short-area touches.
His consistency and willingness to master the entire route tree have stood out early in training camp.
Bobby Slowik Earning Hafley’s Trust
Hafley also spoke highly of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
Although retaining Slowik provided continuity, Hafley revealed he had targeted him as a coordinator long before taking the Dolphins job.
The two previously worked together in San Francisco, and Hafley praised Slowik as both an outstanding football coach and an exceptional person.
Most importantly, Hafley said he has complete confidence in Slowik to lead the offense while remaining collaborative throughout the season.
Cleaning Up the Details
When asked to evaluate the first week of training camp, Hafley said he’s been extremely pleased with the team’s effort and attitude.
He consistently praised the players for practicing hard, paying attention in meetings and buying into the coaching staff’s expectations.
The biggest areas needing improvement are the controllable mistakes.
False starts, pre-snap penalties and overall execution remain works in progress, but Hafley believes those issues are normal at this stage of camp.
With the effort and accountability already established, he feels the coaching staff can continue building toward a disciplined football team.
Final Thoughts
Jeff Hafley’s message continues to remain remarkably consistent throughout Dolphins training camp.
He values effort, toughness, accountability, and selfless football above everything else.
While injuries have created some challenges during the opening week of camp, none appear particularly concerning outside of Rene Konga’s season-ending injury.
Meanwhile, players like Malik Willis, Kadyn Proctor, Malik Washington and Zach Sieler continue earning praise as the Dolphins steadily work toward the start of the 2026 season.
