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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The Miami Dolphins kick off their preseason on Friday against the Washington Commanders in Landover, Maryland.
Both teams are coming off losing seasons and looking to rebound in 2026.
But it looks like the Dolphins will have to manage that game — and potentially the rest of the preseason — without one of their star defenders, veteran defensive tackle Zach Sieler. Head coach Jeff Hafley announced Wednesday that Sieler is being considered "week-to-week" with an undisclosed injury.
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Miami has one of the lowest projected win totals in the NFL this season (roughly 4.5), and it's still early in the preseason. But Sieler is one of the team's top defenders and was expected to provide a steady veteran presence on a defense that lost several key contributors this offseason, including Minkah Fitzpatrick and Bradley Chubb.
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A seventh-round pick in 2018 (No. 238 overall), Sieler spent most of his first two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before the Dolphins claimed him late in the 2019 season after Baltimore waived him. They haven't looked back since. Over seven seasons in Miami, Sieler has become one of the Dolphins' most reliable defenders, racking up 35.5 sacks, 353 combined tackles, 59 tackles for loss, 78 quarterback hits, five forced fumbles, and five interceptions.
He posted back-to-back 10-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024 and followed that with another strong campaign last year — 47 total tackles, including 10 for loss, nine quarterback hits, and 5.5 sacks, second on the team behind Chubb. Since 2023, no defensive tackle in the NFL has recorded more sacks than Sieler's 25.5.
With Chubb no longer in the picture, there was already going to be more pressure on Sieler this season. Now, it looks like he could miss most — if not all — of Miami's preseason slate.
After Friday, the Dolphins host the New York Giants on Saturday, Aug. 22, and the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, Aug. 28.
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