Dolphins’ McDaniel addresses Ramsey injury, other issues, before third camp practice

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on Friday confirmed that Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey will miss the start of the season with a knee injury, with a more precise timetable to be determined during surgery at 1 p.m. Friday.

Ramsey was diagnosed with a meniscus injury in his left knee, an injury sustained while he was covering Tyreek Hill during Thursday’s practice. NFL Network has said that the expectation is the meniscus will need to be repaired, which would sideline him until December.

But doctors won’t know that for sure until during the surgery. If doctors determine that they must simply trim the meniscus instead, Ramsey could be back in late September or early October.

McDaniel said he could not speculate on which outcome was more likely.

UPDATE: Ramsey had the full meniscus repair during the 1 p.m. surgery and won’t play until December, per NFL Network.

McDaniel said the length of Ramsey’s absence will be “dictated on a couple of things that could occur in the surgery” and the timetable is “to be determined.”

McDaniel said Ramsey “won’t play at the start of the season.” It will be “into the season” and “how deep that is depends on what happens today.”

He said it was a “non contact injury. The contact was after the injury.”

After sustaining the injury, Ramsey addressed the team.

“Jalen spoke to the team and it really moved a lot of people,” McDaniel said. “He let everyone know how much they appreciate this team, and how this team has accepted him, and how he knows what we’re doing here is special and exuded all the confidence he has in this position group.

“He told all of his teammates not to worry, not to feel sorry for him. Whatever timeline the doctors give him, he’s going after that timeline and trying to flex that he’ll beat it. He couldn’t be more committed and excited to join the team. That adversity is not really an issue; it’s an opportunity for a lot of guys to come together and step up.”

Meanwhile, Keion Crossen has an undisclosed injury and won’t practice on Friday, McDaniel said. He said the Dolphins are gathering information on the injury. And Nik Needham remains on the physically unable to perform list while working back from October’s torn Achilles injury.

The Dolphins’ top healthy cornerbacks are Xavien Howard, Kader Kohou, rookie Cam Smith, Noah Igbinoghene, Justin Bethel and Trill Williams. Smith likely will assume a much larger role in Ramsey’s absence.

Miami likely will add a cornerback in the coming days. “We’ll have a workout for depth purposes,” McDaniel said.

“I feel good about the entire crew,” McDaniel said of the cornerback situation. “We are dealing with some injuries now in that group, but I feel very, very, very good about the competition there and the guys who are ready to go and see some opportunities. There are Pro Bowlers, hungry young guys and everyone in between.”

On Kohou, McDaniel said: “I see determination and hunger to build on what he’s done.”

McDaniel addressed other issues before the third training camp practice:

▪ McDaniel, asked about Miami’s level of interest in Dalvin Cook, who’s visiting the Jets this weekend: “I’m extremely happy with our running back group... However, Dalvin Cook is a great player. He’s a free agent and he’s visiting the Jets.”

The coach said “if it works for both sides” and if it “makes sense for somebody,” but then changed thoughts.

▪ McDaniel said linebacker Jaelan Phillips was “stepped on” during the second drill of Wednesday’s first practice. “It’s an injury we’re not worried about but wouldn’t be healed if he continued to practice.” He missed practice on Thursday.

▪ McDaniel said safety Brandon Jones and cornerback Trill Williams - who are both working their way back from 2022 ACL injuries - haven’t had any setbacks. They practiced fully on Wednesday but not Thursday.