Kenneth Grant’s first snaps as a Miami Dolphin came with a payoff. Activated from injured reserve last Saturday after a toe injury that cost him the first four weeks, the first-round defensive tackle played 16 snaps against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday and recorded a tackle for loss on one of his first plays of the season.
“Yeah, it felt pretty good,” Grant told reporters Tuesday. “Just get the first one of the season, just being able to put all the work in the offseason and having a setback and then coming out there. And one of my first plays getting the TFL felt pretty good.”
Grant finished the afternoon with one assisted tackle and a half-stuff in the box score after Miami’s 31-24 loss dropped the Dolphins to 0-5. The 13th overall pick in the 2025 draft out of Michigan said simply being back with teammates mattered as much as the stat. “It was definitely fun being out there with my dogs,” he said. “When my number was called, I answered and did the best of my ability. So I had to go out there and perform.”
“When my number gets called, I’m gonna answer the bell”
Asked how the ramp-up would work after only 16 snaps, Grant kept the decision with the coaching staff. “Whatever coach feels like I need to do, I’m gonna do it,” he said. “When my number gets called, I’m gonna answer the bell.” The next step, he added, is the same regardless of the snap count: “Just whenever my number is called, I’m gonna take advantage of it. With how many of the snaps I get, I’m gonna take advantage and do my best and try to make plays.”
The setback was new territory for him. “This is the first time I’ve ever actually been injured and things like that,” Grant said. “So it was definitely a rough spot, but I got over it and I’m here to execute and do my job.” Time on the sideline still had a purpose. He said the mental work of listening to coaching points gave him “a different perspective of what coach wanted and how to execute those.”
Lighter, and learning Hafley’s front
Grant listed a clear goal for year two: “Just get better, get better from last season, be dominant. Be dominant in the run and the pass game and get a lot of wins for this team.” Part of that plan has been the scale. “I’ve grown just my nutrition and things like that, definitely getting better,” he said. “I dropped probably like 15 pounds since the offseason, so continue to drop that and just be more explosive and dynamic.” At 6-foot-3 and listed at 335 pounds, he said the lighter frame already feels freer. “I feel pretty good actually. I feel like I can definitely go a lot more plays.”
In Jeff Hafley’s defense, Grant described a nose role built around dirty work up front. He said the staff wants defensive linemen to grind blocks, stay gritty and take on double teams so second-level defenders can fly around, then mix in pass rush to affect the quarterback. His career line now sits at 34 tackles and two sacks, with this season’s sample still just the Bengals debut.
Miami is on its bye in Week 6 and visits the New York Jets on Oct. 25. Grant’s message for the next call was short. “I’m here to execute and do my job.”
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