Report: Austin Jackson to miss several weeks after being placed on injured reserve

The Miami Dolphins have reportedly placed starting offensive tackle Austin Jackson on injured reserve, keeping him out of the lineup for at least the next four games.

Jackson was injured in Week 1 against the New England Patriots, and head coach Mike McDaniel had said he would have been able to return in an emergency situation in that game.

However, it appears Jackson’s condition has not improved, and the Dolphins are playing things safe by holding him out of the lineup for four games.

Tackle Greg Little, who replaced Jackson against the Patriots, is the likely replacement for him on the offensive line in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens.

Jackson, the No. 18 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has yet to really find his footing in the NFL. His struggles over his first two seasons led to the Dolphins signing Terron Armstead to give the team an anchor at the left tackle position.

So far in three seasons with the Dolphins, Jackson has appeared in 31 games, making 29 starts. After playing left tackle as a rookie, he moved inside to the left guard position last season.

Miami is hoping that Jackson can eventually become an anchor on the other end of the offensive line opposite of Armstead. For now, the team will turn to Little to hold down the fort and protect Tua Tagovailoa over the next four weeks.

Little, a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, played for the Carolina Panthers in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Injuries have derailed his career so far, as he’s appeared in just 15 games and made six starts in the NFL.

Little played in a large chunk of the Dolphins’ Week 1 win, as he appeared in 75 percent of the team’s snaps on offense. That should give McDaniel a lot of confidence in him heading into Week 2, especially since the Dolphins picked up a big win against a division rival with Little’s help.

The Ravens and Dolphins will face off in Baltimore at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday.