Dolphins' Zach Sieler working to return with visor on facemask
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler returned to practice for the first time since fracturing an orbital bone in practice two weeks earlier, costing him his availability in losses to the Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills.
The standout on the defensive front is tracking toward playing Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams.
"The biggest thing was the swelling," Sieler said at his locker room Thursday after practice. "So once that kind of started to calm down, I really was able to work through kind of what happened, how to go from there, and how to recover."
Sieler said he'll be wearing a visor for the rest of his career to not ever have to experience the injury again.
He doesn't recall how it happened, as he said he blacked out once he was hit.
Sieler feels lucky his eyesight wasn't affected.
"I was fortunate enough where my actual retina and cornea didn't get damaged," he said. "But the swelling made it hard to kind of decipher what was going on. So once that did calm down after a few days, I was able to plan an attack and kind of work through it."
As Sieler returned to practice, Dolphins right tackle Austin Jackson was missing at Thursday's session.
The team's injury report released later Thursday revealed it was a knee injury that was not previously hindering the protector of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's blind side.
If Jackson can't play against the Rams, it could be veteran swing tackle Kendall Lamm in for him, as rookie second-round pick Patrick Paul has played exclusively on the left side to this point.
As the Dolphins anticipate they'll have Sieler back this week, the status of two other key defenders remains in question.
Dolphins safety Jevon Holland and cornerback Kader Kohou both missed last Sunday's loss to the Bills, and they are working to try to return for Monday night's game against the Rams across the country at SoFi Stadium, according to coach Mike McDaniel.
McDaniel said Holland, who is dealing with knee and hand injuries, wouldn't practice Thursday, but Kohou (neck) should see some work.
The return for either or both would provide a boost to the Miami secondary.
Without Holland, Marcus Maye started next to Jordan Poyer at safety. And at cornerback behind Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller, a Kohou return would mean the Dolphins don't have to dip into their depth to Cam Smith and Siran Neal if Storm Duck is also out.
Along with Jackson, left tackle Terron Armstead, defensive tackle Calais Campbell and safety Jordan Poyer all weren't spotted either. Those absences were for veteran rest, though, as revealed when the team's injury report was released later Thursday.
Fullback Alec Ingold, a limited participant Thursday nursing a calf injury, was seen laboring through drills at practice.
Miami wide receiver River Cracraft has improved to full practice participation, as he could be activated from injured reserve this week.
The Dolphins opened the 21-day practice window Thursday for rookie safety Patrick McMorris, who has been on IR since the start of the season due to a calf ailment, originally believed to be a foot issue.
McMorris is the fourth Miami player designated for return off IR, along with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, cornerback Cam Smith and Cracraft. A team gets eight to bring back off IR or the non-football illness list, which long snapper Blake Ferguson is on for at least another week.
Miami is not yet ready to have outside linebackers Bradley Chubb (knee) or Cameron Goode (knee) or offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn (quadriceps).
Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert has lost a key fumble in each of the team's past two road losses.
McDaniel took a firm stance Thursday that his most veteran running back cannot put the ball on the ground.
"He has to hold onto the ball. We have learned how vital those turnovers can be, especially in a one-score game," McDaniel said. "At this time we have learned two hard lessons. Can't be another lesson that needs to be had, especially when you have other guys who aren't turning the ball over."
After the game in Buffalo on Sunday, McDaniel noted Mostert also had a productive outing, totaling 88 yards on 12 total touches.
Trade deadline
As the Dolphins went quiet at the trade deadline, McDaniel detailed that some conversations took place, but they ultimately did not amount to any trade with another team.
He reiterated a belief in Miami's current roster.
After quarterback C.J. Beathard was poached from the Dolphins' practice squad this week by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami is not adding another passer.
The team, instead, signed back former seventh-round offensive lineman Ryan Hayes onto the practice squad.
