Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Ankle injury keeps Jones out of action
Defense down two safeties with McCain’s shoulder still ailing
Miami Dolphins safety Reshad Jones, who has started 110 games since 2010, was held out of his second consecutive practice Thursday because of an ankle injury.
Jones only played in 32 of Miami’s 72 defensive snaps in Sunday’s 59-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He had five tackles as the team’s starting strong safety.
“I thought he played well. I think he tackled well. I thought he was aggressive,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said when asked to evaluate Jones’ performance in the opener. “This is an experienced, very good player. This guy’s made a lot of plays in this league. I think he can do a lot, and we’ll try to put him in positions to do that.”
Complicating matters for the Dolphins is the fact that Bobby McCain, the team’s starting free safety, continues to nurse a shoulder injury he’s had since the exhibition season. McCain began yet another week with his practice participation limited. But he’ll likely play with the shoulder injury all season unless it gets worse.
Backup safety Walt Aikens, Miami’s special teams captain, also has a shoulder injury, but he participated in practice without any limitations on Thursday.
If Jones, a two-time Pro Bowl player, can’t play strong safety, the
Dolphins might be forced to put Minkah Fitzpatrick in his spot, pairing him with McCain, or play newcomer Steven Parker, who was one of five players claimed off the waiver wire last week, as his replacement.
Also missing Thursday’s practice was Albert Wilson, who has spent more than 10 months rehabilitating a hip injury. Wilson has been on the injury report the past two weeks because of a hip and calf injury, but he hasn’t practiced the last two days.
Wilson, who caught two of the four passes thrown his way for 13 yards against the Ravens, is one of the main playmakers Miami’s coaches intend to run their offense through this season.
If Wilson doesn’t play against the Patriots on Sunday, more of his workload will go to Jakeem Grant and Allen Hurns, who served as backups to DeVante Parker and Preston Williams against the Ravens.
Flores is a fan of the “toughness” Hurns, a sixyear veteran, brings to the team.
“I like Allen a lot. [He’s] smart [and] can play multiple positions,” Flores said. “[He’s] clean on his assignments most times. I like him. I think he’s a good player.”