After being out of the NFL since April 2015, Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan received some good news on Friday morning. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the league has reinstated Jordan on a conditional basis.
Jordan can now join the rest of his Dolphins teammates in training camp, which began on Friday morning. He can also participate in meetings and other team activities but he won’t be practicing right away with the team.
“Prior to the start of the regular season, Jordan will meet with the NFL to review his progress,” according to the league press release on Friday morning. “Based on his compliance and engagement with his program and resources, he will be permitted to participate in all regular season activities beginning in Week 1. He will be evaluated later in the season for full reinstatement.”
In April of 2015, Jordan was suspended without pay by the NFL following multiple violations according to the league. Before his suspension, Jordan hardly made any impact on the field during his time with the Dolphins.
Jordan was selected No. 3 overall by the Dolphins in the 2013 NFL Draft. In his first season in 2013, Jordan played in 16 games and recorded just 26 tackles and two sacks.
The next season in 2014, Jordan played in just 10 games for the Dolphins as he was suspended six games for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Jordan finished the 2014 season with 20 tackles and one sack.
Dolphins head coach Adam Gase has been hesitate to talk about Jordan until he was officially reinstated. After practice on Friday, he still didn’t have much to say about Jordan.
“I’m still getting all of the details,” Gase said. “We are still at the beginning stages, but we do have a plan in mind.”
Many of Jordan’s Dolphins teammates heard the news as they were walking off the practice field. The consensus was excitement.
“It will be good to have him back on the team, linebacker” Koa Misi said. “He’s an athlete and he can play anywhere.”
“He’s a very talented player, one of the highest draft picks we’ve had in some time,” Dolphins center Mike Pouncey said. “So we are excited to get him back and we will see what he can do.”
Getting Jordan back will provide the Dolphins defense with even more depth. If Gase and Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph decide to keep Jordan at defensive end, that could potentially help the linemen stay fresh in the Dolphins defense.
If the team does decide to move Jordan to linebacker where he played in college, that possibly could help improve a core that has a number of question marks heading into the season.
No one knows if Jordan could make a long-term impact on the Dolphins as he has failed to do so at this point. At the very least, he could be a player used in situational downs.
Twitter: @antwanstaley
