Early in the Miami Dolphins' loss to the Giants on Saturday, rookie linebacker/edge rusher Trey Moore tried to bat down a Jameis Winston pass. He hit the ground hard, landing on his ankle, and immediately writhed in pain. He was helped to his feet, helped off the field, and eventually was taken to the locker room on a cart.
Head coach Jeff Hafley didn't have any answers after the game, but on Sunday, he delivered the good and the bad of the situation. Moore does have an ankle injury, and he will miss time, but Hafley didn't say it was going to be season-ending.
Dolphins LB Trey Moore will "miss some time" with an ankle injury, per coach Jeff Hadley #PhinsUp
— c. isaiah smalls ii (@stclaudeii) August 23, 2026
Miami Dolphins Jeff Hafley delivers good news on Ollie Gordon's injury
Moore is the big news of the day. His non-stop motor and physical punch off the snap aren't going to be easily replaced. His ankle injury will give fellow rookie Max Llwellyn more reps in Friday's preseason finale.
The Dolphins had high expectations for Moore this year, and while they are not certain how bad the injury is, it appears to be leaning more toward not being a season-ending issue, if we take Hafley's comments at face value.
On the other side of the ball, running back Ollie Gordon took a shot to what appeared to be the ribs as he came down awkwardly on a carry. Gordon left the field and did not return, but Hafley told South Florida media that he was kept off the field for precautionary reasons only. The head coach said he was cleared to return to the game.
Another injury to Ronnie Harrison, Jr. will cause him to miss time as well. Harrison suffered a hamstring injury and has been ruled out for Friday's preseason game against the Falcons. There will be another two weeks for him to get healthy before the start of the regular season, if he makes the roster.
So far, the Dolphins have avoided harsh injuries, but they are still dealing with guys like JuJu Brents, Zach Sieler, and Kenneth Grant who have missed time. This is refreshing, considering the number of injuries the Dolphins have had in the last few years at this time of the year.
Hafley is pushing his players harder, and the practices are a lot more physical than they were under Mike McDaniel. Is that a reason the minor injuries haven't added up? Maybe, maybe not, but losing Moore is something we need to keep an eye on. There is no timeline for a return, and he could start the season on IR, making him ineligible for the first four weeks of the season. If Miami does get him back this year, they will avoid disaster.
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