Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones goes down on first drive against Bills. He won’t return
One of the Miami Dolphins’ top defensive players — and one of the biggest free-agent acquisitions in franchise history — lasted less than a drive Sunday against the Buffalo Bills before a groin injury knocked him from the game.
Byron Jones headed to the locker room early in the first quarter of the Dolphins’ home opener in Miami Gardens with a groin injury. The cornerback was holding the muscle as he walked off the field and was initially listed as questionable before the Dolphins ruled him out at halftime.
Brian Flores did not have an additional update after the Dolphins’ 31-28 loss.
“Obviously, he went out and didn’t return,” the coach said. “I don’t have an update. Obviously, he’ll get in and get treatment, and we’ll take a look at that this afternoon or this evening and tomorrow morning, but I don’t have an update.”
The Dolphins signed Jones to a five-year, $82.5 million deal in March, temporarily making him the highest paid corner in NFL history before the Philadelphia Eagles topped it by signing cornerback Darius Slay. With Jones and fellow cornerback Xavien Howard, Miami has four of the six highest paid corners in league history.
The injury was a non-contact injury, as Jones pulled up in coverage while tracking Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs on a crossing route. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen threw an incomplete pass anyway and the Bills had to punt. Jones had one tackle before exiting.
Jones had been listed on the injury report the last two weeks with an Achilles tendon issue, but started his second straight game at Hard Rock Stadium.
On the Bills’ next drive, rookie cornerback Noah Igbinoghene entered the lineup as the outside corner opposite Howard. Cornerback Nik Needham also started in the slot for Miami.
Buffalo marched 97 yards on 11 plays on the first drive without Jones and Allen threw for a touchdown. Allen went 6 for 8 for 80 yards on the drive after going 1 for 2 for 5 yards on the opening drive. One of Allen’s completions was a 25-yards pass to Diggs against Igbinoghene. The touchdown pass to tight end Reggie Gilliam gave Buffalo an early seven-point lead in the meeting between AFC East rivals.
Jones won’t have long to get healthy for the Dolphins’ next game. Miami is set to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday. The Dolphins have cornerbacks Tae Haynes, Javaris Davis and Cordrea Tankersley on their practice squad.
Lightning delay
After a power outage at Hard Rock temporarily halted the television broadcast of Miami’s game against the Bills in the first half, lightning in the area of the stadium forced the actual game to be delayed early in the second half.
The Dolphins ran two plays in the third quarter before a lightning strike delayed the game.
This story was originally published September 20, 2020 at 1:24 PM.
