Dolphins guard James Daniels expects to be ‘fully healthy’ from torn Achilles by training camp
James Daniels didn’t mince words when asked about his Achilles injury.
“Achilles injury in the contract year, the quality I was playing last year, honestly, it as was brutal,” said Daniels who tore his Achilles Sept. 29, 2024. “That’s a tough thing to happen.”
Daniels, however, will be back in time for training camp, the new Miami Dolphins signee said Monday, a good sign considering the need for strong offensive guard play after the team’s dismal rushing offense in 2024.
“I’m going to be fully healthy when the season starts,” Daniels said.
Daniels tore his Achilles during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 4 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. The 2018 second-round pick was in the midst of a career season, accumulating a Pro Football Focus grade of 92.9 which ranked second among all guards.
That similarity between the Steelers’ and Dolphins’ schemes happened to be one of the major reasons why Daniels chose Miami.
“The outside zone scheme, that’s what I was playing in Pittsburgh and that’s what I did back in Iowa,” Daniels said, explaining that the scheme requires him “to play fast and attack. So much of the man scheme is double teams and like fitting in and like driving people slow. With the outside zone scheme, you’re expected to attack and play with speed. I feel like my best year, last year in the NFL, my best tape was playing in this type of scheme and I’m excited to get a chance to play in it again.”
Although Daniels excelled at right guard in 2024, he has experience on the left side and at center. Not even the Dolphins have given the No. 36 overall pick any indication where he’ll play.
“They’re still figuring things out,” Daniels said. “They just said during OTAs they’ll have a plan.”
On one hand, he can stick at right guard and, alongside tackle Austin Jackson, build a formidable wall for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side. Conversely, the Dolphins could also opt to switch Daniels to the left to help out second-year tackle Patrick Paul who would be the likely replacement for two-time Pro Bowler Terron Armstead if he chooses to retire.
“I feel at home anywhere,” Daniels said. “Yes, I’ve played right guard the past three seasons, but in Chicago, I played left guard and I played center as well.”
Added Daniels: “It really doesn’t matter because the coach is teaching the same technique to the left guard, he’s teaching the same technique to the right tackle, left tackle. The techniques are the same. He’s not coaching people differently.”
The former Iowa offensive linemen started his career at left guard with the Chicago Bears. Daniels then switched between center and both guard positions before he signed with the Steelers in the 2022 offseason. He primarily played right guard in Pittsburgh.
In early March, Daniels reportedly signed a three-year, $24 million deal with the Dolphins, according to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. For Miami, the deal made sense considering the team finished 21st in rushing offense. That comes just one year after the Dolphin fielded the sixth-best rushing offense. Daniels, meanwhile, ranked second in run blocking among all guards through four games of the 2024 season.
“It’s a really good offense to play in, a really fun offense to play in,” Daniels said, adding that “the style of play of the offense plays into my strength” and “there’s a lot of playmakers.”
The hope is that if the Dolphins reestablish their ground game, all else will follow. Daniels knows this. Even more accurate, he knows that Dolphins fans view him as a key cog in their team’s offensive success.
“Every free agent signing, especially when it’s a multi-year deal for a total of double digits, you understand that you’re being signed to a team for a reason,” Daniels said. “Financially when they’re giving you that much money, you’re expected to come in and be a change to the team. I understand the position I’m in, and I understand that the Dolphins believe a lot in me and that the fans are expecting a lot from me.”
This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 4:17 PM.
