Miami Gardens, FL . May 2026

The Miami Dolphins may have suffered an unfortunate early offseason setback involving one of the organization’s most intriguing developmental pass-rushing rookies.

Max Llewellyn had reportedly started generating strong internal buzz throughout early offseason practices because of his relentless motor, advanced pass-rush technique, and ability to consistently pressure quarterbacks.

According to reports surrounding Wednesday’s OTA practice session, seventh-round edge defender Max Llewellyn recently suffered a moderate high-ankle sprain during on-field drills.

While the injury is not currently considered season-threatening, league insiders believe Llewellyn is expected to miss approximately six to eight weeks of football activity.

That timeline would likely force the rookie defender to miss the remainder of Miami’s offseason program entering training camp.

The injury reportedly occurred during a lateral movement pass-rush rep, where Llewellyn awkwardly planted his lower leg before immediately stepping away from drills alongside medical personnel.

Several observers noted the rookie appeared visibly frustrated after what had reportedly been a very strong start throughout offseason practices.

The Dolphins selected Llewellyn with the 238th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after an impressive collegiate career at Iowa.

At 6-foot-5 and 263 pounds, Llewellyn entered the league viewed as one of the more intriguing late-round pass-rush specialists because of his rare spin-move ability and nonstop playing style.

According to Pro Football Focus evaluations, Llewellyn generated 27 quarterback pressures using his signature spin move across his final two collegiate seasons, leading the nation in that category.

During his final season at Iowa, he also recorded:

41 total quarterback pressures,

6.5 sacks,

10 quarterback hits,

and earned an impressive 87.2 pass-rush grade.

Scouts consistently praised his high-motor mentality and refusal to quit on plays, qualities that reportedly stood out immediately during Dolphins offseason workouts.

However, league evaluators also acknowledged that Llewellyn still needs significant development as a run defender after posting inconsistent run-defense grades throughout college.

Internally, Miami coaches had reportedly been especially eager to evaluate how quickly his pass-rush package could translate into third-down NFL situations during OTAs.

Now, much of that developmental process will temporarily pause while the rookie focuses on rehabilitation.

Fortunately for Miami, early medical evaluations reportedly confirmed the injury avoided major ligament damage or surgical concerns.

The expectation remains that Llewellyn should have an opportunity to return sometime during training camp if recovery progresses positively.

Still, for a seventh-round rookie fighting for a rotational role inside a competitive defensive front, missing valuable offseason reps creates a difficult obstacle early in his NFL career.

One Dolphins coach reportedly told reporters:

“It’s definitely frustrating because he was having a really strong start to camp. Missing the entire offseason is tough for any young player, especially a rookie trying to earn reps. But we believe in him, and we’re going to do everything possible to get him back healthy and ready for preseason.”

And for Max Llewellyn, the next two months may now become critical in determining how quickly his intriguing pass-rush potential can re-enter Miami’s long-term defensive plans.