Liam

Eichenberg

Eichenberg is a five-year veteran of the league who missed all of last season due to an undisclosed injury. Eichenberg has started 52 of the 60 games he has appeared in for his career and will be 28 at the start of next season. He moved from tackle to guard in 2024 after allowing 16 sacks through his first three years in the league and will likely remain as a guard wherever he lands next.

No word on what injury — if any — Waller is dealing with currently, but he was something of a magnet for injuries in his last few years in the NFL so it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see him have one now. He also may just be being brought along slowly after unretiring.

The Dolphins bring back the underwhelming right guard. Whether this was always their goal remains to be seen, but they likely lost out on some of the higher-priced free agents and decided to stick with the one they know. Eichenberg earned a career-best 56.0 PFF offense grade in 2024. He allowed just two sacks, bringing his career total up to 18. The 2021 second-rounder started his career at tackle, but has been moved around the inside over the last three years with Miami.

The Dolphins had several offensive linemen out, with Armstead (knee/ankle), Liam Eichenberg (calf), Robert Hunt (hamstring), and Austin Jackson (oblique) missing Wednesday’s practice. Tight end Durham Smythe (ankle) was also limited, severely hampering the Dolphins’ offensive blocking. It is just the first practice report of the week, so several players could return to practice, but for now, the Dolphins’ offensive line is banged up heading into Week 16.

The Dolphins injury report is lengthy and includes Armstead, OT/C Liam Eichenberg (calf), and OG Robert Hunt (hamstring). The Dolphins also put starting center Connor Williams on the IR earlier this week with a torn ACL. There are a few days before this becomes a real worry, but the Dolphins are shaping up to be down multiple starting offensive linemen against a strong Jets defensive line, which could be a problem for Tua Tagovailoa.

Eichenberg in Week 8 suffered a sprained MCL and will miss at least the next month. The Dolphins are getting RT Austin Jackson back from injured reserve, softening the blow of losing Eichenberg for the near term. Miami has the league’s second worst pass blocking offensive line this season, per Pro Football Focus.

Eichenberg was injured on a TD pass to Mike Gesicki. The broadcast declined to show the replay of the injury but reported that it looked like a significant injury. Mike McDaniel said “My heart goes out to him but we’ll get some information back tomorrow as to the severity of that.” It doesn’t sound great for Eichenberg. Robert Jones replaced him at guard.

He’ll be competing with Liam Eichenberg for a starting spot. Jackson was flipped to left guard in the middle of last season and his first two years in the NFL have been rough. He was called for 12 penalties last season and finished with a 49.4 PFF blocking grade. It’s quite possible that Eichenberg -- who played mostly left tackle last year but is moving because of Terron Armstead -- wins the job and Jackson doesn’t start at all for the Dolphins in 2022.

Eichenberg (6'6/306), a former four-star recruit, was a 38-game starter at Notre Dame. He’s a superb run-blocker, firing out low and quick to win at first contact and establish leverage, showing outstanding leg drive and a finishing instinct. In pass-pro, Eichenberg is a technician with an advanced degree in depth and angles, forcing edge defenders into low-percentage predicaments. Eichenberg profiles best as a starting right tackle in the NFL. Speed rushers on the blind-side may give him fits because even though Eichenberg forces these players to take the long-path to beat him, they can steal home when Eichenberg loses his patience and over-extends beyond his skates to throw a lackluster punch, leaving the back door open while opening up inside-counter opportunities. Lacking freak athleticism, he’ll get by on know-how, scrap and technical acumen. Think Riley Reiff.

Eichenberg (6'6/302) didn’t waste much time when it came to making his decision regarding the 2020 NFL Draft, which came as a surprise to some. The redshirt senior was viewed by some as a top-100 prospect in the 2020 draft class, and he finds himself in a similar spot when it comes to the 2021 group. If Eichenberg’s name isn’t called during Day 2 of next spring’s draft, he shouldn’t be on the board very long on Day 3. Pro Football Network draft analyst Tony Pauline has given Eichenberg a fourth-round grade.