The Miami Dolphins have signed veteran offensive lineman Germain Ifedi, a move prompted by a wave of injuries plaguing their training camp. The announcement comes just a day after it was reported that starting right tackle Austin Jackson will be sidelined for several weeks due to a lower-extremity injury.
Though Jackson is expected to return by the start of the regular season, his injury adds to a troubling trend for the Dolphins, who have dealt with multiple key losses in the early stages of camp.
Dolphins Defense Depleted by Camp Injuries Following Major Offseason Secondary Overhaul Moves
Miami’s training camp has been unusually injury-ridden. Offensive lineman Bayron Matos had to be airlifted to a hospital following a serious injury described by his agent as “above-the-shoulder.” In addition, the team lost two cornerbacks, Kader Kohou and Artie Burns, to season-ending ACL tears. Safety Ashtyn Davis is also out indefinitely after sustaining a lower-body injury that has him in a boot and using a scooter.
Germain Ifed (NFL)These recent injuries come after a significant overhaul in the Dolphins’ secondary during the offseason. Miami released Kendall Fuller, saw Jevon Holland depart in free agency to the New York Giants, and traded star cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick.
These changes, coupled with the training camp injuries, leave the Dolphins thin and vulnerable on defense as the regular season approaches.
Melifonwu Returns as Ifedi Adds Depth to Injury-Hit Dolphins Offensive Line
Despite the injury setbacks, Miami received some positive news with the activation of safety Ifeatu Melifonwu from the non-football injury list. His return provides some much-needed reinforcement for the secondary. However, with multiple starters out or recovering, the Dolphins will still need to rely heavily on depth players and new additions like Ifedi to stabilize both lines.
Germain Ifedi, a former first-round pick in 2016, brings valuable versatility to the offensive line. He played in 15 games for the Browns last season and has experience at every position on the line except center. With previous stints at Seattle, Chicago, and Atlanta, Ifedi adds depth and flexibility to a unit that has struggled with injuries, particularly for Jackson, who has missed 28 of 84 games since being drafted in 2020.
