MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins' 19-9 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday was the team's final game before the league's Tuesday trade deadline.
A few veterans on the young, rebuilding roster may draw trade interest around the league, one being starting right tackle Austin Jackson.
Jackson said after the game he won't approach the 48 hours following the loss to the Lions, with the league's deadline at 4 p.m. Tuesday, any different than normal.
"Same thing I always do. That's not in my control," Jackson said.
He was asked if he has allowed his mind to consider at all that could have been his final game with the Dolphins, who drafted him in the first round in 2020.
"No, I've only heard that from you guys (the media) all week," Jackson said in the locker room.
When asked if he would prefer to remain with Miami, he said: "I want to go wherever, whoever wants me. I love the Dolphins. I love my time here."
Jackson was brought back this season on a restructured one-year contract. He has struggled in pass protection at times against the NFL's top pass rushers. With injuries a concern in the past for him, Jackson has remained healthy through the first half of the 2026 season.
It's possible a contending team in need of help at offensive tackle could be interested in sending the Dolphins a late-round pick.
The Dolphins also took a former college offensive tackle, Kadyn Proctor, with their first pick of the past draft. He has started his NFL career at left guard while Jackson mans the right tackle position.
Another Miami player who has been rumored in the weeks leading up to the deadline is defensive tackle Zach Sieler. He has said he wants to remain with the team, and agent Drew Rosenhaus has said he would be surprised to see Sieler traded by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan.
Defensive end Josh Uche, who had a sack and a hit on Lions quarterback Jared Goff that led to an interception, was asked about the trade deadline approaching postgame Sunday. He said: "I can't control that. Y'all (the media) got more power than I do, but just go home, take care of my body."
The Dolphins were without running back Jaylen Wright Sunday.
Wright, who entered questionable with a quadriceps injury, was ruled out when inactive players were announced 90 minutes prior to kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium . He was already expected to miss the game, according to an NFL Network report earlier Sunday morning.
Wright has 41 rushing yards on 22 carries this season, first playing behind Pro Bowl running back De'Von Achane and then behind Ollie Gordon II after Achane's season-ending knee injury.
Where Wright's impact is more greatly felt is on special teams. He is averaging 27.6 yards on 22 kickoff returns this season. Wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. handled kickoff returns Sunday.
Behind Gordon at running back, the Dolphins had Kaytron Allen, who also entered Sunday questionable with an ailing quadriceps, and Carlos Washington Jr., who was elevated from the practice squad Saturday. Allen carried one time for a loss of a yard, but made a 46-yard reception on a fake punt. Washington made one 8-yard reception.
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Wright was seen running on the field about two hours prior to kickoff as he works his soft-tissue injury back to health.
During Sunday's game, tight end Will Kacmarek had a quadriceps injury and returned. Cornerback JuJu Brents also left momentarily to go to the locker room but later returned.
On the other side, the Lions had star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown good to go, after he was deemed questionable with a rib injury. St. Brown had eight catches for 86 yards.
Detroit had already ruled out edge rusher DJ Wonnum (concussion), center Cade Mays and cornerback DJ Reed on Friday, along with linebacker Jack Campbell, who was placed on injured reserve Saturday following his scary neck injury last week. Running back Jacob Saylors was deemed out prior to kickoff Sunday due to his ailing neck. Safety Kerby Joseph, who has been practicing as he rehabs his knee, was still not activated by the team ahead of Sunday's game.
Dolphins edge rusher Malik Herring (neck) was active after entering questionable.
Healthy Dolphins inactives Sunday were wide receiver Jalen Tolbert, cornerbacks Marcellas Dial Jr. and Reese Taylor, offensive linemen Christian Haynes and Chukwuebuka Godrick and tight end Justin Joly.
A week after an infamous missed sack on Patriots quarterback Drake Maye , Dolphins rookie cornerback Chris Johnson earned redemption with his first career interception.
Uche, who had a sack earlier, hit Goff as he threw, causing a pass to float to Johnson for an easy interception. He is the third rookie with an interception this season, joining safety Michael Taaffe and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
Later in the first half, Rodriguez picked up his first career sack.
Versatile linebacker/safety hybrid defender Kyle Louis recorded the first start of his career Sunday.
With Rodriguez named the team's nominee for the NFL's "Salute to Service" initiative , his wife, Emma Rodriguez, virtually led the pregame "Let's go Dolphins!" chant, along with her platoon, via a pre-recorded video displayed at the stadium.
She is on active duty as a 15A aviation officer and H-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army. Her service commitments are keeping her away from Jacob Rodriguez during his rookie season.
Along with his wife, Rodriguez's father, Joe, is an Army veteran. Beyond his family ties, Rodriguez has connected directly with military personnel both while with the Dolphins and in college at Texas Tech.
"It's a huge honor," Rodriguez said this past week. "I have a lot of respect for anybody in the military, any branch of service, any role that they have — active, reserve, they all serve a greater purpose. So, I think to be able to lay your life down if need be for your country, I think is unbelievable. And to so, to be nominated for this is something that I don't take lightly. It's something that's very, very near and dear to my heart."
