Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard was standing at a platform just after going off the practise field Tuesday when a local reporter asked him who fans should keep an eye out for as training camp began.
He was alluding to Kader Kohou, a second-year cornerback who was a revelation as an undrafted free agent last season. And the promise Kohou showed as a rookie will have to be realised sooner than anticipated, since Jalen Ramsey will need surgery on the meniscus in his left knee and is likely to miss the start of the regular season, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday. Ramsey might be out for “a few months,” according to one source, depending on how the operation goes.
“Kader, my kid. “That guy is a straight dawg,” Howard stated. “With him being an undrafted player, I continue to see him grow and improve on the field.”
Ramsey was carried to the locker room during practise Thursday after hitting with wide receiver Tyreek Hill during 11-on-11 exercises. He had an MRI and was diagnosed with a meniscus tear.
The Dolphins have contended with injuries at the cornerback position over the previous three years, most notably in 2022, when Byron Jones, Nik Needham, and Trill Williams missed a combined 45 regular-season games. Even though the Dolphins traded for Ramsey this summer, general manager Chris Grier chose cornerback Cam Smith in the second round to give depth to the secondary.
“In this league, and especially in the AFC, with a lot of talented quarterbacks and teams, we can never have enough corners, as we experienced last year with the rash of injuries that we dealt with,” Grier said.
In the first 11 weeks, the Dolphins play five of the top ten teams in ESPN’s Football Power Index, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, and Los Angeles Chargers.
While Ramsey’s timeline is uncertain at this time, even the best-case scenario would be a significant setback for the Dolphins’ defence, which is adjusting to a new defensive strategy under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Kohou made 13 starts as a rookie and might have taken exception to the team’s two key arrivals at his position.
“First of all, I wasn’t even supposed to be here last year,” he said. “There will always be competition and stuff.” When Ramsey was added, I was ecstatic. He is one of my favourite players to watch on the pitch. I feel like having him here alongside X, I’m simply going to learn from them and push my game to the next level.”
Miami was already not at full strength when training camp began. Needham, a slot cornerback, is attempting his comeback after a ruptured Achilles last October. He was not put on the team’s physically unable to perform list and attended spring practises, working off to the side.
As things stand, Kohou and Smith are set to start with Howard, with Keion Crossen and 2020 first-round selection Noah Igbinoghene also in the mix. Trill Williams has yet to recover fully after injuring his ACL in the preseason last year, but he had a great training camp in 2022 and might be competing for major plays by the end of the summer.
Howard has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons and was named an All-Pro in 2020. Despite a disappointing year last season, Howard feels he is still a No. 1 cornerback now that he is well after suffering soft tissue problems in 2021 and 2022.
“Do you believe? I am a genuine No. 1. “What are you on about?” Tuesday, Howard chuckled. “However, we’re cornerbacks. We have it. That’s part of our strategy.”
According to ESPN’s FPI, the Dolphins have the fourth-toughest schedule in the NFL this season. Miami will need Ramsey for a postseason push in December, when the Dolphins visit the Tennessee Titans, Jets, and Dallas Cowboys before travelling to face the Baltimore Ravens and finishing the regular season at home against the Bills.
“That season-ending push is going to be legendary!” Ramsey took to Twitter on Thursday evening.
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