Injury Concerns Grow for Dolphins Ahead of Week One
The countdown is on: in just 13 days, the Miami Dolphins will open their 2025-26 NFL season against the Indianapolis Colts. However, this offseason has been anything but smooth. Training camp has been filled with setbacks, including a scare to Jaelan Phillips’ knee and a lingering issue for starting right tackle Austin Jackson. As kickoff approaches, head coach Mike McDaniel has started hinting at which players may be in danger of missing Week One.
The Dolphins will be without their All-Pro kicker Jason Sanders, according to McDaniel. The 29-year-old is expected to miss the first four to five weeks of the season with a hip injury. Sanders has been the team’s lone kicker for the past seven seasons, bouncing back last year after struggling in 2023 by going 37-for-41 on field goal attempts. His absence is a huge blow, especially since the team currently doesn’t carry another kicker. Fortunately, there are several experienced kickers available on the market, including Matt Prater, Eddy Pineiro, and Cade York.
Running back depth is also a concern. Second-year RB Jaylen Wright will miss multiple weeks with an undisclosed leg injury, leaving just two healthy backs on the roster. With Alexander Mattison already out for the season with a neck injury, Miami will now have to rely heavily on Ollie Gordon, who was the team’s preseason standout, totaling 126 rushing yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. The team may also look to add another running back to provide depth for Gordon and an already banged-up De’Von Achane.
There is some encouraging news on the defensive side. Kenneth Grant, the Dolphins’ 13th overall pick in the 2025 draft, is expected to be fully healthy for Week One. Grant had been listed as day-to-day prior to the preseason finale, making him one of the few defensive starters to miss action. With roster cuts looming tomorrow, the Dolphins will need to finalize a starting kicker and ensure they have sufficient depth at running back. While fans await the return of football, more injury updates are expected, particularly regarding stars Achane and Tyreek Hill, who will be crucial to the team’s success this season.
