Dolphins CB Nik Needham tears Achilles vs. Vikings, out for season
Dolphins cornerback Nik Needham tore his Achilles tendon in the team’s 24-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday and will miss the remainder of the 2022 NFL season, a league source confirmed to the Miami Herald.
Needham sustained the injury in the second quarter of the defeat, grabbing at his right leg after making a tackle on wide receiver Adam Thielen. He was carted off the field and later ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Needham’s injury is another blow to the depth of a cornerback room that has battled injuries dating to training camp. Needham, who was primarily the team’s slot corner in 2021, has stepped in as a starter on the boundary amid the absence of Byron Jones, who remains on the reserve/physically-unable-to-perform list. Veteran Mackensie Alexander was released with an injury settlement days after signing with the team and second-year player Trill Williams sustained a season-ending knee injury in the first preseason game.
One of the team’s best recent undrafted finds, Needham has recorded 21 tackles and one pass breakup this season. After a career year in 2021 in which he recorded 59 combined tackles, with five pass deflections, two interceptions and a touchdown, Needham, 25, signed a second-round restricted free agent tender worth $3.9 million in the offseason.
The Dolphins also lost Keion Crossen to a knee injury on Sunday. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel did not provide an update on Crossen’s injury after the game.
Rookie Kader Kohou, who has played significant snaps this season, was inactive because of an oblique injury.
With a trio of cornerbacks out Sunday, the Dolphins turned to 2020 first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene and core special teamer Justin Bethel alongside Xavien Howard, who has been dealing with a lingering injury to his groin muscles. Igbinoghene recorded two pass breakups and was flagged for pass interference, while Bethel recorded one tackle and a pass breakup.
If Jones cannot return for the team’s Week 7 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Sunday Night Football,” Igbinoghene and Bethel will likely continue to take on bigger roles. The team also has third-year player Elijah Campbell on the 53-man roster and veteran safety Eric Rowe has experience at corner. Kalon Barnes and Tino Ellis are also available to be elevated from the practice squad.
NFL Network first reported Needham’s injury.
This story was originally published October 16, 2022 at 7:00 PM.
