Reshad Jones could miss this Sunday’s game according to report

The Miami Dolphins may be without one of their best defensive players on Sunday if a new report on Reshad Jones is accurate.

The Miami Herald’s Armando Salguero is reporting that Reshad Jones may be unavailable this Sunday for the Dolphins game against the visiting Oakland Raiders with a shoulder injury. According to Salguero via his Herald blog, Jones sat out Wednesday’s practice.

Jones would be a big loss to a defense that is currently ranked in the top five of the NFL in stopping the run. He apparently injured the shoulder on the last play of the first half against the Jets as he was making a touchdown saving tackle.

"Although Jones continued to play and, indeed, participated in every defensive snap, he left the locker room with his right shoulder in a sling. – Armando Salguero"

Salguero points out that the injured shoulder is not the same shoulder that sidelined him for the entire season in 2016. That injury was a torn rotator cuff. The same injury that is now sidelining guard Josh Sitton for the 2018 season.

The injury, according to Salguero is not expected to be anything serious after the team conducted tests on the shoulder after they returned home to Miami. Still missing Jones for any extended period of time could create a problem for an improving Dolphins defense.

Jones is more than just a leader on the field. He is a savvy veteran who is really good against the run and designed blitzes. He is also a solid open field tackler with good vision from the secondary. In his abscence it’s possible that the Dolphins move T.J. McDonald to his strong safety position.

The injury also explains why the Dolphins signed Maurice Smith off the practice squad on Monday. Smith was released when the team made final cuts to 53 and was added to the practice squad when he cleared waivers. The Dolphins really like what they see in Smith but he needs real game experience and it appears that he will get some potentially this weekend.

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Miami of course could also drop first round draft pick Minkah Fitzpatrick back into the safety slot as well. He has been playing more of the slot corner through the first two weeks.

With the Raiders coming to town this week and the Patriots on the schedule the week after, resting Jones may not be a bad thing this weekend. The Raiders are 0-2 but they have good skill players on offense that could create a problem for the Dolphins defense. Especially tight-end Jared Cook. The Dolphins struggle to cover tight-ends.

It is likely too early to know for certain whether or not Jones will miss this Sunday or how much time he will actually miss but for now it’s at least comforting to know that it isn’t presumed to be serious. We will keep you updated on his status as it becomes more clear.

UPDATE:

The news for Jones could be good as some in the media are now reporting that he could be available on Sunday. Adam Gase told the media that he is hopeful to have Jones back for the Raiders game.