Dolphins Stock Report (Day 19): Nickel role is growing on Jason Marshall Jr.
The Miami Dolphins have an extensive history of grooming boundary cornerbacks to work in the nickel spot, and it appears that Jason Marshall Jr. is the next conversion project.
The former University of Florida standout, whom the Dolphins selected in the fifth round of the 2025 Draft, has spent the past weeks mainly working in the nickel role, covering slot receivers, and the position seems to be growing on the team’s biggest (6-foot, 204 pounds) cornerback.
Before Marshall, the Dolphins converted Kader Kohou into a nickel cornerback. Before Kohou, who will miss this season with a knee injury sustained in training camp’s first week, it was Nik Needham, whose injury opened the door for Kohou to become a starter. Before Needham it was Bobby McCain, who later transitioned to safety. Before McCain it was Jimmy Wilson, and before him it was Will Allen.
It’s possible Marshall could begin the season as Miami’s starting nickel, especially if the Dolphins decide to release veteran nickel cornerback Mike Hilton, a nine-year veteran who practices sparingly every day. Before Marshall worked in the nickel spot Cornell Armstrong was competing with Hilton.
“I’m able to move around more freely,” Marshall said about the move from the boundary to the nickel spot. “Tackling was a big question about my game coming into the NFL. I can be more physical at that position, especially with my size.”
Top Performers
▪ Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick pulled down an interception against Trevor Lawrence during 11-on-11 red-zone drills that the Pro Bowl safety would have likely returned for a touchdown if the action were live. Fitzpatrick continues to be a stabilizing presence in the Dolphins secondary.
▪ Defensive tackle Zach Sieler: Sieler is typically a force on Miami’s defensive line, but the volume got turned down for a couple of days because of an undisclosed injury. That’s why it was good to see him consistently harass Lawrence, speeding up his throwing rhythm, which led to quite a few inaccurate throws.
▪ Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips: Phillips is seemingly seizing the opportunity that Kenneth Grant’s injury is creating, making plays during Thursday’s joint practice like he’s made during both preseason games. Phillips produced at least one would-be sack and was stout against the Jaguars rushing attack.
Stock up
▪ Aaron Brewer is the stabilizing presence on Miami’s young, inexperienced offensive line. Brewer, who is entering his second season as the starting center, regularly got to the second level on running plays against the Jaguars, and was the only Dolphins offensive lineman who won every 1-on-1 rep against Jacksonville.
Stock down DOWN
▪ Jonah Savaiinaea has been hot and cold for most of training camp, and on Thursday he was consistently pushed around by the Jaguars’ defensive front, especially Arik Armstead. Savaiinaea, whom the Dolphins have made a Day 1 starter at left guard even though the former Arizona standout mostly played on the right side in college, needs to tighten up his technique for Miami to turn up the volume on the run game and create a respectable pocket for the quarterbacks.
Injury update
Tailback Jaylen Wright left practice early because of a lower-body injury that produced a heavy limp and was immediately taken inside the Baptist Health facility that’s adjacent to the team’s facility.
Receiver AJ Henning left practice with what appeared to be a left hamstring strain.
Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant missed his second straight practice because of an undisclosed injury, which coach Mike McDaniel hinted might take longer than a week to heal.
Cornerback Kendall Sheffield is sidelined by a soft-tissue injury he has been nursing for a couple days.
Offensive lineman Kion Smith, who is working his way back from a season-ending knee injury sustained last August, worked without limitation after sparingly practicing on Wednesday.
Tight end Darren Waller did position drills on his second day off the PUP list.
What they said
“That first joint practice with Chicago, I feel like that was some B.S. They were out there tackling…. It was fake physicality. They were playing tackle football and everybody else was playing 7-on-7s. It’s fake physicality. You kind of [saw] that when we went out there and played a real game. The one in Detroit taught us you have to have your mind right every day. You have to approach it the same way. You can’t short step [the process],” Brewer said.
