Robert

Jones

The former undrafted free agent played the first four years of his career with the Dolphins before missing the 2025 season while with the Cowboys. He started 30 games across 49 appearances in Miami, notably starting all 17 games in 2024. He provides veteran depth for a 49ers offensive line largely lacking experience behind their returning starters.

Jones suffered a neck injury on July 28th, and was expected to rehab the issue for two-to-three months. His placement on the injured reserve list rules him out for the 2025 season. Jones is a backup, but the Cowboys’ offensive line health is already in a bad place. They will likely work out a few offensive linemen next week. The team correspondingly signed RB Malik Davis.

The left side of the Cowboys’ offensive line is ailing. OT Tyler Guyton is currently sidelined by a fracture in his knee, and three backups have also picked up injuries: OG Rob Jones (neck), OT Matt Waletzko (ankle) and OT Hakeem Adeniji (concussion). The Cowboys will host former RT La’el Collins for a workout this weekend.

It’s a scary injury for Jones, who signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys earlier this offseason and was reportedly working with the first-team offense before going down. Jones started all 17 games he appeared in for the Dolphins last season, earning a PFF blocking grade of 56.1 while playing on over 1,000 snaps. Jones will likely open the season on injured reserve with a chance to return around the midway point of the season.

Jones has put together a successful UDFA career, having worked his way upward, through backup roles, before taking on starting duties last season. He manned the Dolphins’ left guard spot in 2024. Jones will compete for a starting role with the Cowboys, who lost stalwart right guard Zack Martin to retirement this offseason.

Jones was set to be a restricted free agent but will instead return to the Dolphins on a one-year contract. The former undrafted free agent appeared in eight games for the Dolphins last season, starting five while earning a PFF blocking grade of 60.9. Jones has started 13 of the 32 games he’s appeared in for his career and should have a chance to earn a permanent starting gig this offseason after starting four straight games to close out the regular season.

Holland didn’t take to the practice field until Friday and was only able to practice in a limited capacity. The third-year safety made one of the bigger defensive plays of Week 12 against the Jets when he intercepted a Hail Mary attempt by Tim Boyle and returned it for a 99-yard touchdown before halftime. In addition to Holland, the Dolphins also listed OT Terron Armstead (knee/quad), RB Chris Brooks (knee), OL Lester Colton (illness), and OL Robert Jones (knee) as questionable for Week 13.

Jones suffered the knee injury in the fourth quarter and stayed down on the field in pain for a while. He was eventually helped off the field by trainers and eventually road the cart to the locker room. His injury wasn’t visible on the broadcast, but Rich Eisen on play-by-play described it as “ghastly.” With the game nearing the final whistle, Jones is obviously done for the day.

Jones was competing for a chance to win a starting spot on the offensive line but will now miss at least the first week of the season with his injury. The good news is he isn’t expected to undergo surgery at this time. Jones started seven games at left guard for the Dolphins last season and earned a PFF grade of 62.0.