What is going on with Dolphins CB Byron Jones? And Mike McDaniel says Browns are ‘no joke’
The more time that passes, the more Miami Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones is giving everyone Will Fuller vibes from a year ago. The Dolphins appeared hopeful he could return at some point in training camp after starting camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list in late July. Now, heading into Week 10 this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, he is still not...
The more time that passes, the more Miami Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones is giving everyone Will Fuller vibes from a year ago.
Fuller, last season, infamously had a week-to-week finger injury sustained in Week 4 sideline him for the whole year — with his status still up in the air during the latter weeks of the season whenever former coach Brian Flores was asked.
Jones had lower left leg surgery in March. The Dolphins appeared hopeful he could return at some point in training camp after starting camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list in late July. By the end of the preseason, he was still on PUP list to start the year, sidelining him for at least the first four weeks.
Now, heading into Week 10 this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, he is still not ready to return to play, let alone practice, coach Mike McDaniel said this week.
“If you’re sick of asking it, what do you think the microphone guy (McDaniel at the podium) is?” McDaniel said Wednesday when his press conference began with another question about Jones.
“There’s a lot of variables at work, and you just try to give everyone the best opportunity to contribute to the team, like I know he wants to,” McDaniel continued. “That’s still open. … I react. I don’t try to dictate the future. My crystal ball is broke.”
Browns ‘no joke’
The Dolphins (6-3) are getting their share of practice at not taking opponents lightly. They’re in the midst of a five-game stretch against sub-.500 teams that was preceded by a difficult opening swing on the schedule and another gauntlet in the final month-plus.
Miami isn’t going to start doing it with the 3-5 Cleveland Browns coming to Miami Gardens. McDaniel feels the team is better than its record indicates.
“This Cleveland Browns team is no joke. They are a good football team,” McDaniel said. “Every week’s a challenge. This one, in particular, is a lot greater than people realize.
“Their record is their record. Whatever this means is that I think they can beat any football team in the National Football League, and you can’t say that about every team.”
Struggling at stopping the run against the Chicago Bears — granted, because they had dual-threat quarterback Justin Fields set a regular-season rushing record at his position with 178 yards — Cleveland has star tailback Nick Chubb leading its backfield. The Browns can also play stout defensively, where they are led by defensive end Myles Garrett.
“It starts with their edges,” McDaniel said. “They strain. They go after it. … We comb tape week in, week out, and we are definitely not sleeping on this team. This is a good football team that, if you are not detailed and technically sound, they will expose you in a harmful way.”
This story will be updated.
()