Star cornerback Jalen Ramsey will not be available for the start of the 2023 regular season, Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday.
Ramsey spoke to the team Thursday after he left practice with a non-contact knee injury. McDaniel confirmed the injury is a torn meniscus with surgery scheduled Friday that would determine the extent of his absence.
“Jalen spoke to the team, and it really moved people,” McDaniel said Friday, noting that Ramsey’s response to the injury and his determination have been positives for the entire team.
McDaniel said the start of the regular season is not a realistic return date for Ramsey, who was acquired via trade from the Los Angeles Rams. A full meniscus repair would likely rule out Ramsey until December.
Ramsey pointed to the longer absence than a minor torn meniscus repair — which calls for a recovery of around eight weeks — Thursday night when he tweeted, “That end of the season push gon be legendary!”
The injury occurred while Ramsey was matched up with speedy Tyreek Hill during an 11-on-11 drill toward the end of practice. Ramsey clutched at his left knee prior to colliding with Hill and was quickly evaluated by trainers.
Ramsey — a three-time All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl champion — has missed multiple games in a season to injury just once in his previous eight NFL seasons.
Ramsey, 28, was acquired by the Dolphins from the Rams on March 12 in exchange for tight end Hunter Long and a 2023 third-round draft pick.
Ramsey had a career-high 88 tackles to go along with four interceptions and two forced fumbles in 17 games (all starts) with the Rams last season. Los Angeles did not make the playoffs in 2022, although he helped the club to a Super Bowl title the previous campaign.
Ramsey has 452 tackles, 19 interceptions and six forced fumbles in 108 career games (107 starts) with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-19) and Rams (2019-22). He was selected by Jacksonville with the fifth overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.
–Field Level Media
