Jackson Done for 2024 and Other O-Line Updates

Former Miami Dolphins first-round pick Austin Jackson will undergo knee surgery.

Miami Dolphins guard Austin Jackson (73) prepares to block Buffalo Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (92) in the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium. / Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Miami Dolphins tackle Austin Jackson, who was placed on injured reserve (IR) last week, will not return in 2024.

Head coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday that Jackson would require surgery for the knee issue that caused the Dolphins to place him on IR.

"I don't expect him to return, based upon the timeline of that surgery," McDaniel said. "We got a bunch of different opinions, and I don't think he'll be back this year."

When asked whether Jackson would be ready for training camp next summer, McDaniel said he thought that "[...] would be very feasible. But we'll see. We'll be talking about that in the spring."

This will mark the second time in three years that Jackson's season has ended prematurely because of an injury.

In 2022, Jackson played only two games after sustaining an ankle injury in the opener and re-injuring the ankle in his first game after a stint on injured reserve.

Jackson, the Dolphins' second of three first-round picks in the 2020 NFL draft, played 16 games last season and was rewarded with a contract extension in early December.

Veteran Kendall Lamm started at right tackle in Jackson's place in the 23-15 victory against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, and there's no reason to think that won't remain the case for the rest of the 2024 season.

DOLPHINS OFFENSIVE LINE OUTLOOK

The Dolphins' offensive line suffered another injury Monday night, this time involving left guard Robert Jones.

He left the game in the second quarter because of a knee injury and did not return.

McDaniel did not have an update on Jones' condition when he addressed the media Tuesday afternoon.

McDaniel added he would have more information about Jones on Wednesday. He also wondered whether this could be the week that 2023 starting left guard Isaiah Wynn starts practicing after being on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list because of a quad injury.

It's a positive sign that McDaniel didn't immediately dismiss the idea of Wynn practicing this week, but we'll know more on Wednesday.

Lester Cotton took over at left guard against the Rams after Jones left the game, and one would think he'll start against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, even if Wynn does return to practice because asking him to start a game after just three practices might be too much.