Day 2 of the Miami Dolphins 2023 Training Camp was going smoothly…
….Until Jalen Ramsey went down and grabbed his knee.
The ‘good’ news is the staff checked him and Ramsey hobbled off to be carted back to the locker room–at least he was able to move a little. The verdict is 6-8 weeks with a meniscus tear, so it’s not a disaster.
With the defense as a critical key to the Dolphins’ success this season, Ramsey being hurt is a big hit, but the Dolphins are deep in the secondary, so it isn’t a death blow to the season.
So, let’s focus on the rest of Day 2 of Training Camp (no pads):
The Dolphins spent a 2nd Round pick on DB Cam Smith, who was lit up for a long TD from Skylar to Braxton Berrios. It is what it is… and expected. Still, keep note that these types of losses disappear.
Kader Kohou had a very nice interception that was aided by an excellent Jerome Baker deflection. This kid will make me sleep better for however long Ramsey is or isn’t out for.
Tua had a couple of nice passes one to Waddle and one to Wilson, but it was a pedestrian day for the most part. New FA quarterback Mike White had a decent day with short and medium gains. Add in the Skylar to Berrios pass and the Dolphins QB group looks to be solid this season.
2nd Round-pick, linebacker Channing Tindall wasn’t Mr. Invisible today getting some notice, but he did drop an interception. Still, a ‘sorta’ sighting’ of the kid is better than none at all… getting the interception would have been nice though.
Xavien Howard has been sharp over the two days of practice and looks healthy. He’s still an elite player when not limited by injury. If Ramsey is injured this will be an even more critical storyline.
On the injury front, Terron Armstead, Isaiah Wynn, Connor Tanner, and Nik Needham are still on the PUP and Jalen Phillips had a lower leg injury that kept him out of practice. Hopefully, we get them all back soon.
This team IS and MUST be bigger than a Ramsey injury
The Phins have an elite coordinator in Vic Fangio, highly talented defenders in Jevon Holland, Xavien Howard, and Kader Kohou, savvy vets like Needham and Elliot, and highly drafted Cam Smith to fill the void of Ramsey being down for however long.
You can bet with the best pay-per-head that there is plenty of talent to compensate for the sizable loss. It wouldn’t be an easy task, but it’s doable with all this talent on the defense.
This 2023 Dolphins team is bigger than Ramsey no matter how talented he is. So, the Dolphins and fans have to have the mindset of ‘next man up’ until Ramsey returns. Let’s see how it plays out–Fingers crossed! Go Phins!!!
