MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, over the offseason and early portion of training camp, appeared primed for a surge heading into his second NFL season.
But then a toe injury sidelined him during camp, hindering that progress for the 2025 first-round pick, whose rookie season left something to be desired.
Grant sat out the necessary four weeks from the start of the season on injured reserve, and after getting back into game action for the first time in 2026 in last Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, he can build himself back up on the other side of the Dolphins’ bye week.
Grant played just 16 snaps off the bench as a rotational presence on the interior of the defensive line. He combined with linebacker Jackson Woodard for a tackle for loss down near the goal line early in the second quarter.
“Good. I thought it was solid. I think getting his feet wet, getting the rust off,” Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said of Grant’s first game in his defensive scheme. “I think he did some good things, and we need to get him going a little bit this week with what we do on the field and then get him back practicing more and playing more because we’re going to need him.”
Dolphins defensive line coach Austin Clark said he looked a little rusty in the week of practice leading up to his 2026 debut.
“Probably had the look of a guy I haven’t coached in a while,” Clark said last week, “but he’s flying around. He’s had great energy.”
Even with that rust, Grant made a strong effort play the one time he showed up in the box score against the Bengals.
Lined up between the Cincinnati center and right guard and with the Bengals on the Miami 5-yard line, Cincinnati ran running back Chase Brown wide to the left. Grant strained to the ball carrier, even as the play was going away from him, and as Brown attempted to cut it back, he was there to wrap him up and combine with Woodard to bring him down for a loss of a yard.
“Felt pretty good just to get that first one of the season, being able to put all the hard work in the offseason, having a setback and, one of my first plays, having a (tackle for loss), it felt pretty good,” Grant said. “When my number was called, I answered it and did it to the best of my ability. I had to go out there and perform.”
Although Grant has always been touted for his athleticism at his size, the backside pursuit he used to chase down Brown might not have happened without his offseason workout regimen.
The mammoth defensive tackle lost about 15 pounds. Once up near 340 pounds, he’s now listed on the Miami roster at 326 pounds, a number that may have changed since it was last updated in the preseason. He credits new nutrition habits as playing a major role in shedding the pounds.
“I continue to drop (weight) and just be more explosive and dynamic,” Grant said. “I feel like I can definitely go a lot more plays in a row, for sure.”
Clark noticed the way Grant spent most of his time since the end of his rookie year at team headquarters, working to play leaner.
“He stayed here all offseason, worked his tail off with the strength staff,” Clark said. “Think he’s gotten stronger, quicker. And he was doing great in camp before he got dinged up.”
Missing time due to injury was a new experience for Grant. He played all 17 games as a rookie, and he didn’t really miss time in his three college seasons at Michigan.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever actually been injured,” he said. “Definitely a rough spot, but I got over it and I’m here to execute and do my job.”
That time off the practice field afforded Grant a new view of the game and his assignments, as he stepped away and took mental repetitions.
“I kind of got a different perspective of what Coach wanted and how to execute,” he said. “Certain plays are designed for certain things. You need a specific technique for what we’re trying to run. Just being able to execute all those details.”
After Grant’s his first game of the 2026 season, he now gets to recover over the bye week and possibly ramp up his snap counts when the Dolphins return to play against the New York Jets on Oct. 25. The unit has veteran Zach Sieler and fellow second-year defensive tackles Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers. With the team 0-5, Sieler could presumably be a valued trade target for a contending team, and if he gets dealt, that would open up more opportunities for the young group developing behind him.
“Whenever my number gets called, I’m going to answer the bell,” Grant said. “However many chances I get, I’m going to take advantage and do my best.”
Grant said his goals for the rest of the season are simple: “Just get better from last season, be dominant in the run and the pass game and get a lot of wins for this team.”