No Action for Jackson as RT Conundrum Rolls On
He sits on his bike or works out with a trainer on the sideline, a familiar calling card for a player who’s done little to raise his head above the parapet of mediocrity during his career.
An enigma who’s missed an astonishing 41% of his career games – he’s featured in just 62 of 104 matchups since Miami passed on Justin Jefferson, Jordan Love, Jordyn Brooks, Tee Higgins, Xavier McKinney and Jonathan Taylor to take him 18th overall – he remains the final holdover from that disastrous 2020 first round.
In many ways, Austin Jackson is the poster boy for the last few years of this franchise.
And yet, it was only a few short days ago that I argued on this very site that he was the individual on the roster with the most weight on his shoulders heading into the 2026 season. You could make solid arguments for guys like Chop Robinson, Jordyn Brooks, De’Von Achane or, of course, Malik Willis, and I’d listen. But there are layers to the right tackle spot that go way beyond the actual position itself: if Miami are going to have any hope of showcasing the talents of their new quarterback and aren’t setting him up for complete failure, they need Jackson upright and available for the season.
Don’t get me wrong, at this point he’s a substandard starter: the excellent offensive line evaluator Brandon Thorn released his tackle rankings at Bleacher Report this week, and Jackson was dead last among starting right tackles in the NFL, three spots behind 2025 disaster Larry Borom.
“When available last season,” Thorn wrote, “Jackson remained volatile. He has enough size, heavy hands and initial power to jolt rushers or create first-level movement when his timing is right, but shaky body control and erratic hand usage routinely pull him out of position. He overcommits to defenders’ initial paths, struggles to adjust as reps progress, and lacks the recovery skill to save himself once beaten. Jackson’s experience keeps him rosterable, but his recent availability and technical inconsistency place him closer to the backup tier than a dependable starting option.”
Unfortunately, so much of that is true. Yet this is where we are, dying even for the most baseline competency to help a unit crying out for help on that right side.
Over the last 72 hours since Jackson went down, Malik Willis has been protected by a combination of Charlie Heck, Kevin Cline and Gottlieb Ayedze. It hasn’t gone well. Heck, who’s been the next man up, has been a revolving door or a penalty machine, and with likely backup Jamaree Salyer still “day-to-day,” according to Jeff Hafley, Miami needs Jackson back and fast. There has been no official update from the Dolphins head coach on what the issue actually is with the former USC left tackle, but for a player with his injury history, this is close to the worst possible start imaginable.
But why the fuss if he’s the 32nd-best RT in football on a one-year prove-it deal?
Miami currently has two college offensive tackles who were high-round selections starting at guard. And over the last couple of days, the drumbeat from fans and local reporters urging them to move outside has been growing louder. But it seems clear at this point that that’s not a path the coaches want to take. 2026 first-rounder Kadyn Proctor has done no cross-training at tackle whatsoever, and it’s clear they view him as a guard.
Patrick Paul was always cemented at left tackle anyway, and having never taken a snap on the right side, the decision has clearly been made that he’s a guard. Whether that’s a long-term outlook or just the plan in the short term so that he gets his NFL legs under him between Paul and center Aaron Brewer remains to be seen. But if he is a pure guard moving forward, then it’s a little galling knowing that they spent such a high-tariff pick on that position, especially if guys who they could have taken – notably Caleb Downs and Reuben Bain specifically – continue their collective hot starts to training camp.
And yes, I know it’s early, and no snaps have been taken in anger yet.
The other collegiate tackle – and indeed a RT for part of his career at Arizona – is 2025 disaster, Jonah Savaiinaea, who ranked 33rd out of 34 on Thorn’s list of best right guards in the NFL (Brewer was third and Paul 15th at their respective spots).
However, I can’t see a single scenario where he’s moved outside, and just a cursory glance at his 2025 film will show you why. He was so far away from being even a competent pass protector, unable to move his feet and then his hands quickly enough.
Having him on an island against Micah Parsons, Brian Burns, or Myles Garrett is a recipe for getting Quinn Ewers in the game because Malik Willis wouldn’t survive, and there are no possible reasons where having a guy with very questionable athletic ability and really bad feet should ever kick outside.
So here we are, desperate to find out what Malik Willis has but completely hamstringing him with the worst receiving corps in the NFL and a right tackle situation that is already bordering on disastrous.
The Dolphins brass aren’t stupid. They know it’s a major problem, but they’re in a no-win situation with only so many pieces of wood to nail down the multitude of holes on the roster.
The hope is that Jackson’s injury isn’t serious, that he not only returns to the lineup soon but stays there, and that Salyer can get back to 100% quickly and be ready to go when the inevitable Jackson injury occurs.
The reality though……
No Action for Jackson as RT Conundrum Rolls On
No Action for Jackson as RT Conundrum Rolls On
He sits on his bike or works out with a trainer on the sideline, a familiar calling card for a player who’s done little to raise his head above the parapet of mediocrity during his career.
An enigma who’s missed an astonishing 41% of his career games – he’s featured in just 62 of 104 matchups since Miami passed on Justin Jefferson, Jordan Love, Jordyn Brooks, Tee Higgins, Xavier McKinney and Jonathan Taylor to take him 18th overall – he remains the final holdover from that disastrous 2020 first round.
In many ways, Austin Jackson is the poster boy for the last few years of this franchise.
And yet, it was only a few short days ago that I argued on this very site that he was the individual on the roster with the most weight on his shoulders heading into the 2026 season. You could make solid arguments for guys like Chop Robinson, Jordyn Brooks, De’Von Achane or, of course, Malik Willis, and I’d listen. But there are layers to the right tackle spot that go way beyond the actual position itself: if Miami are going to have any hope of showcasing the talents of their new quarterback and aren’t setting him up for complete failure, they need Jackson upright and available for the season.
Don’t get me wrong, at this point he’s a substandard starter: the excellent offensive line evaluator Brandon Thorn released his tackle rankings at Bleacher Report this week, and Jackson was dead last among starting right tackles in the NFL, three spots behind 2025 disaster Larry Borom.
“When available last season,” Thorn wrote, “Jackson remained volatile. He has enough size, heavy hands and initial power to jolt rushers or create first-level movement when his timing is right, but shaky body control and erratic hand usage routinely pull him out of position. He overcommits to defenders’ initial paths, struggles to adjust as reps progress, and lacks the recovery skill to save himself once beaten. Jackson’s experience keeps him rosterable, but his recent availability and technical inconsistency place him closer to the backup tier than a dependable starting option.”
Unfortunately, so much of that is true. Yet this is where we are, dying even for the most baseline competency to help a unit crying out for help on that right side.
Over the last 72 hours since Jackson went down, Malik Willis has been protected by a combination of Charlie Heck, Kevin Cline and Gottlieb Ayedze. It hasn’t gone well. Heck, who’s been the next man up, has been a revolving door or a penalty machine, and with likely backup Jamaree Salyer still “day-to-day,” according to Jeff Hafley, Miami needs Jackson back and fast. There has been no official update from the Dolphins head coach on what the issue actually is with the former USC left tackle, but for a player with his injury history, this is close to the worst possible start imaginable.
But why the fuss if he’s the 32nd-best RT in football on a one-year prove-it deal?
Miami currently has two college offensive tackles who were high-round selections starting at guard. And over the last couple of days, the drumbeat from fans and local reporters urging them to move outside has been growing louder. But it seems clear at this point that that’s not a path the coaches want to take. 2026 first-rounder Kadyn Proctor has done no cross-training at tackle whatsoever, and it’s clear they view him as a guard.
Patrick Paul was always cemented at left tackle anyway, and having never taken a snap on the right side, the decision has clearly been made that he’s a guard. Whether that’s a long-term outlook or just the plan in the short term so that he gets his NFL legs under him between Paul and center Aaron Brewer remains to be seen. But if he is a pure guard moving forward, then it’s a little galling knowing that they spent such a high-tariff pick on that position, especially if guys who they could have taken – notably Caleb Downs and Reuben Bain specifically – continue their collective hot starts to training camp.
And yes, I know it’s early, and no snaps have been taken in anger yet.
The other collegiate tackle – and indeed a RT for part of his career at Arizona – is 2025 disaster, Jonah Savaiinaea, who ranked 33rd out of 34 on Thorn’s list of best right guards in the NFL (Brewer was third and Paul 15th at their respective spots).
However, I can’t see a single scenario where he’s moved outside, and just a cursory glance at his 2025 film will show you why. He was so far away from being even a competent pass protector, unable to move his feet and then his hands quickly enough.
Having him on an island against Micah Parsons, Brian Burns, or Myles Garrett is a recipe for getting Quinn Ewers in the game because Malik Willis wouldn’t survive, and there are no possible reasons where having a guy with very questionable athletic ability and really bad feet should ever kick outside.
So here we are, desperate to find out what Malik Willis has but completely hamstringing him with the worst receiving corps in the NFL and a right tackle situation that is already bordering on disastrous.
The Dolphins brass aren’t stupid. They know it’s a major problem, but they’re in a no-win situation with only so many pieces of wood to nail down the multitude of holes on the roster.
The hope is that Jackson’s injury isn’t serious, that he not only returns to the lineup soon but stays there, and that Salyer can get back to 100% quickly and be ready to go when the inevitable Jackson injury occurs.
The reality though……
Related Posts
Dolphins vs Raiders Week 1 Preview: Matchups That Decide It
Miami Dolphins @ LV Raiders Preview
The Same Old Dolphins Show: Dolphins at Raiders | THE WEEK 1 PREVIEW SHOW!