Dolphins being careful with Jones’ calf injury
DAVIE The Miami Dolphins are being cautious about a calf injury that has kept starting safety Reshad Jones from participating in the first five days of training camp.
While head coach Adam Gase said on Monday that Jones will be re-evaluated Tuesday, the Dolphins don’t seem to be in a rush when it comes to getting the sevenyear veteran, who has started 80 games for Miami, on the practice field.
Jones, who signed a new five-year, $60 million deal this offseason, began training camp on the physically unable to perform list, and can’t practice until he comes off it.
“I’m taking this a little slow with that being a calf injury. I don’t want to bring him back too fast. It’s one of those deals in speaking with the trainers, if you have any kind of setback on that, it’s a long period of time,” Gase said.
“So the last thing I would want to do is lose him for extended period of time. Losing him here at the beginning of camp, I’m OK with that.
“I tell him he’s an old man now. So I just want to be smart with it.”
T.J. McDonald has been filling in for Jones as the safety paired with Nate Allen, and Michael Thomas was the top backup before replacing Bobby McCain at the nickel cornerback spot following the knee injury McCain suffered on Sunday.
McCain participated in Monday’s practice on a limited basis, but did not participate in 11-on-11s.
Jones absence opens the door for A.J. Hendy, Jordan Lucas and rookie Maurice Smith to impress the coaches during their limited work as backups.
Dolphins players will be off on Tuesday, but will return to the field Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. on Monday after just three days of training camp with the Jaguars.
“I look forward to returning to Miami, the place that I now call ‘home,’ and running my businesses while giving back to the community,” Albert said in a statement.