The Miami Dolphins finally looked whole again on the offensive line in Week 13, and Austin Jackson’s return immediately changed the tone of their offense. The right tackle played his first game since suffering a toe injury in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts, an injury that cost him 10 games and required a cautious, patient ramp-up.
Jackson logged 58 snaps in the win over the New Orleans Saints and wasted no time reestablishing himself as Miami’s most physical run blocker. His presence helped the Dolphins pile up 164 rushing yards on 32 carries, their third consecutive game over the five-yards-per-carry mark. For a team leaning heavily into a ground-first identity at this stage of the season, Jackson’s return could not have come at a better time.
McDaniel Praises Jackson’s Physicality
Head coach Mike McDaniel didn’t hide his excitement about having his tone-setter back. “He had a mindset of violence that we were counting on,” McDaniel said Monday. “We put him at the point of attack for a ton of things…Overall, he probably exceeded my expectations to a degree and made us a better football team with his tonality.”
That conviction showed repeatedly on tape. Jackson created push on inside concepts, widened lanes on outside runs, and even showcased mobility on a crack-toss call on Miami’s first play from scrimmage. McDaniel called him “a convicted, aggressive” fit for the system the Dolphins.
Larry Borom held down the right tackle spot in Jackson’s absence and had played better of late, but the drop-off in physicality was hard to miss. Jackson’s return instantly restored Miami’s edge.
Playing Hurt, Playing Through It
Jackson admitted after the game that the lingering issue is “in the turf toe realm,” with “the bones in the big toe a little cracky,” and confirmed he will need surgery after the season. McDaniel revealed that most players with Jackson’s injury severity would have been placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Instead, Jackson fought to return, and his performance held up: he allowed just three pressures and zero sacks in his first game back, per Pro Football Focus.
A Strong Finish Could Shape His Future
The short-term impact is clear, but the long-term picture is more complicated. Jackson, 26, enters the final year of his contract in 2026 with a $15.8 million cap number. Miami could designate him as a post-June 1 cut and handle the remaining cap hit in manageable pieces if durability concerns outweigh production.
And the concerns are real. Jackson has played more than eight games only once in the last four seasons, and his injury history continues to grow. Counting on him again without a contingency plan would be a calculated risk.
Still, when he’s on the field, he’s a solid starter at a premium position and a clear difference-maker for Miami’s run game. If he closes the year strong, he may settle the debate himself.