(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The Miami Dolphins endured a rough few days on the practice field as they ramp up for their preseason opener next week.

Right tackle Austin Jackson sustained a lower leg injury on Friday, knocking him out for a matter of weeks, and fullback Alec Ingold wound up in concussion protocol after getting hurt in practice on Sunday.

Jackson missed more than half of the 2024 season due to a knee injury, but coach Mike McDaniel emphasized on Sunday that the latest ailment is unrelated.

'He got the (new) injury playing football and got stepped on. It has nothing to do with anything but that,' McDaniel said Sunday. 'And with Austin, the bottom line for me where he's at ... he knocked some rust off, he got back and, in my opinion, exceeded where he was playing before. So we're fortunate that that timetable (for his absence) doesn't seem to be into the regular season.'

Jackson, 25, has started 54 of his 56 NFL games for the Dolphins since they selected him with the 18th overall pick in the 2020 draft out of Southern California.

The Dolphins added to their offensive line depth on Sunday by signing Germain Ifedi. A first-round pick of Seattle in 2016, he has played for the Seahawks (2016-19), the Chicago Bears (2020-21), the Atlanta Falcons (2022) and the Cleveland Browns (2024). Last year, he appeared in 15 games and made five starts.

Ingold, 29, played three seasons with the Raiders before spending the past three years in Miami, including a Pro Bowl season in 2023. Last year, he had 10 carries for 17 yards and a touchdown to go with 11 receptions for 96 yards.

Miami's exhibition opener is at Chicago on Aug. 10. The Dolphins begin the regular season at Indianapolis on Sept. 7.

--Field Level Media