The Miami Dolphins hit a rough patch in training camp this week. Head coach Jeff Hafley told reporters Wednesday that defensive tackle Zach Sieler is considered week-to-week with an undisclosed injury, according to Pro Football Talk.
Sieler first missed practice Monday in Miami Gardens. By the time the Dolphins loaded up for a joint session with the Washington Commanders in Ashburn, Virginia, he still wasn’t cleared. Hafley didn’t dance around it.
“Zach will be out today. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to practice. I would say that would be week to week,” Hafley told reporters, per SI.com’s Dolphins coverage.
He gave no further detail on the injury itself. That’s been the pattern under Miami’s new coaching staff — tight-lipped on specifics, direct on availability.
Why Sieler’s Absence Matters for Miami’s Defense
Sieler isn’t just another body on the depth chart. He’s entering his ninth NFL season and started all 17 games last year, piling up 47 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He’s also the longest-tenured player on Miami’s roster, having joined the team as a waiver claim off Baltimore’s practice squad back in December 2019.
The timing stings. Hafley is in the middle of installing a new defensive system as Miami’s first-year head coach — one expected to lean on a 4-3 base with nickel packages in passing situations. Losing your most experienced interior lineman during install season means fewer reps for Sieler to learn the new scheme before Week 1 matters.
There’s a financial layer to this too. Sieler carries the highest cap hit on Miami’s roster in 2026 at $11.4 million, and he has no guaranteed money left on his contract after this season, per Spotrac’s contract database. That backdrop makes staying healthy and productive this fall more than a personal priority for the 30-year-old — it’s tied directly to whether Miami views him as part of its long-term rebuild under new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan.
Who Steps Up in Sieler’s Place
With Sieler sidelined, reps shift to the rest of Miami’s interior line rotation. Zeek Biggers, listed as Sieler’s backup on the unofficial depth chart, figures to see the bulk of the extra work. Jordan Phillips and 2025 first-round pick Kenneth Grant are also in the mix competing for time up front.
Grant in particular is a name worth watching. He started five games as a rookie last season, finishing with 33 tackles and two sacks. An extended Sieler absence hands him a real opportunity to close that gap on the depth chart before roster cuts.
What’s Next
The Dolphins have not put a firm timeline on Sieler’s return. He’s expected to sit out Friday night’s preseason opener against the Commanders at FedEx Field, and it sounds like more absences could follow. Hafley has not said whether Sieler will play any preseason snaps at all before the regular season begins against the Las Vegas Raiders.
For now, Miami’s coaching staff is using every rep of the joint practices and preseason to evaluate what the defensive tackle rotation looks like without its most established veteran on the field.
