Dolphins’ Dion Jordan OK with NFI designation; ‘I had to heal’

Dion Jordan cannot even practice for at least another five weeks, but the Dolphins’ defensive end is determined to be part of the team in every way possible.

Jordan, who missed all of 2015 after a third failed drug test, was one of six players who handed out school supplies to local students in need at a Dolphins community event Tuesday.

Also, coaches have praised Jordan’s commitment to getting his career on track; he meets regularly with local counselors as part of his reinstatement plan.

“I feel like it’s good to have our faces in the community, especially when it’s a back-to-school type of thing,” Jordan told the Miami Herald. “Let [the kids] know we support them.”

This is all part of his goal of returning to the field as soon as possible. Unfortunately for him, that won’t be until Week 7, at the earliest.

Jordan is on the non-football injury list, the result of knee surgery over the summer. He’s unable to even practice for six weeks, and once he does, the team has an additional five weeks to decide whether to activate him or not.

While not ideal, Jordan told the Miami Herald Tuesday that the team’s decision to put him on NFI was not a surprise.

“I had to heal from what was going on with my knee,” Jordan said. “I wasn't too surprised. It was something I had to do. The sooner the better with that situation. I got it done as soon as possible.”

This story was originally published September 15, 2016 at 1:14 PM with the headline "Dolphins’ Dion Jordan OK with NFI designation; ‘I had to heal’."