Mike McDaniel says right tackle Austin Jackson is "projected to be starting Week 1." Jackson, who protects Tua Tagovailoa's blind side, suffered a lower-body injury July 2.
MIAMI GARDENS -- Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel met with reporters before Day 10 of training camp. He addressed several injuries.
Here are the highlights:
McDaniel says right tackle Austin Jackson is "projected to be starting Week 1." Jackson suffered a lower-body injury July 2 when he was "stepped on," according to McDaniel. McDaniel added it has nothing to do with the torn meniscus that forced him to miss nine games last season. "The bottom line for me is where he's at … he exceeded where he was playing before," McDaniel said. "We're fortunate that timetable does not appear to be into the regular season." Jackson is the man who protects quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's blindside.
The upside is the next guy gets a chance and McDaniel likes what he's saw from veteran Larry Borom after Jackson was injury. Borom replaced Jackson, working with the starters. "I found out about Larry," McDaniel said.
LB Jaelan Phillips' injury scare turned out to be a bruise from being leg whipped, according to Phillips who broke the news himself on social media. McDaniel said it "might cost him one day, two tops," because of the swelling.
The Dolphins moved quickly to add an offensive lineman, signing Germain Ifedi before the July 3 preactice. Ifedi, 31, was Seattle’s first-round pick in 2016. He has appeared in 117 games, starting 90, with the majority of that time coming with the Seahawks. Miami waived QB Brett Gabbert.
Linebacker Willie Gay has been the talk of training camp, so … McDaniel talked about him: "He's magnetic," McDaniel said. "You can feel his presence throughout the building. What has jumped off is his energy is not a one-off thing. He brings that every day." That, McDaniel said, means each time there is a tip or overthrow, Gay is a "potential takeaway guy."
On what he's looking for when the Dolphins open the preseason Sunday at Chicago: "My eyes are on the first and second year players across the board," McDaniel said
The Dolphins are about week into practicing with pads. "There were some residual wins based on the environment," McDaniel said. "The humidity was a great extra challenge. You get to push guys. With pads energy decreases when you first get them on, you want to see them respond with that energy loss." McDaniel was very happy with what he saw, saying July 2 was Miami's "longest, hardest most energetic practice."
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins Mike McDaniel says OT Austin Jackson expected to play Week 1
Category: Football
