Defensive end Dion Jordan won’t play in Saturday’s game against the Buccaneers as he continues to rehab his surgically-repaired right shoulder and Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that concern is growing in the organization that he’ll also be on the sideline for the season opener on September 8.
Per Salguero, there’s discussion about whether it’s better for the team to continue to keep Jordan out of practice in hopes of avoiding another setback with his shoulder. The specific worry is that the pass rushing moves that Jordan will be utilizing will put stress on his shoulder that would lead to further injury. Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said that his hope is that Jordan stays on target for Week One, but admitted that the team is formulating defensive plans that don’t include their top draft pick as well.
“There’s always going to be a plan A, plan B, plan C as you approach the season,” Coyle said. “We have a plan in place to utilize Dion, provided that he’s up and ready to go. I think he’s making strides with his rehab and working with our trainers and strength coaches. So we are ready to implement that plan if in fact we get the green light. If not, we are proceeding as if we wouldn’t have him in another plan. That’s just part of football where a guy goes down you’ve got to have a plan. One person doesn’t necessarily completely alter your game plan, so there are other people who can play the role we originally had planned for Dion as well on the current roster. That won’t keep us out of doing certain things that we think are going to help us win the game.”
Jordan has missed a lot of practice this summer and the Bucs game will make two straight preseason contests that the Dolphins have played without him, a long enough absence that it is hard to believe he’s set to make too big of an impact early in the season even if he does get the go-ahead to play in a couple of weeks.