Dolphins star cornerback Jalen Ramsey set to return to practice; Raheem Mostert wins weekly award

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins could soon be debuting their prized offseason acquisition.

Star cornerback Jalen Ramsey is returning to practice Wednesday, coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Wednesday afternoon following an NFL Network report earlier in the day.

Ramsey enters the day’s drills “as confident as one can be before his first practice” based on the way he has worked deliberately in rehab, McDaniel said.

Ramsey, widely considered elite at his position with six Pro Bowls and three All-Pro selections, tore the meniscus in his left knee at the Dolphins’ second practice of training camp, July 27.

Returning to practice within three months puts him ahead of schedule in his rehab off surgery. Some reports then indicated he would be out until December, but McDaniel previously said Ramsey was determined to beat the timeline in front of him.

A return to practice means Ramsey is officially designated to return, which opens a 21-day window for him to practice without yet being activated off injured reserve. The Dolphins’ next three opponents are the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs before their bye week. The first game following the bye is Nov. 19 against the Las Vegas Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium. McDaniel already ruled him out for Sunday night in Philadelphia.

Ramsey, Wednesday morning, posted images of himself sporting a new haircut with the caption reading, “The Restart.”

He was trending toward this moment in recent updates. Sunday, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Ramsey was “doing great” when asked about multiple reports saying he was ahead of schedule and slated for a November return to games. The coach added last week: “He’s a special breed and he is on the positive side of returning for sure.”

Once Ramsey is prepared to return to game action, it would boost a Dolphins secondary and pass defense that ranks 19th in the NFL under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. He has experience in a lot of the principles of the Dolphins’ new defensive scheme since he was involved in similar concepts the previous three and a half seasons with the Los Angeles Rams.

The update on Ramsey comes as fellow cornerback Xavien Howard is dealing with a groin injury following last Sunday’s win over the Carolina Panthers that could put his status in question ahead of Sunday night’s game against the Eagles. The Dolphins also have cornerback Nik Needham, a candidate to handle nickel cornerback duties, practicing since his Achilles tear last season. He is still on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

Ramsey, the No. 5 pick in 2016 out of Florida State by the Jacksonville Jaguars, has 19 interceptions, 452 tackles, two sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries in his first seven seasons in the NFL.

Miami acquired Ramsey in March for a third-round pick and reserve tight end Hunter Long from the Los Angeles Rams, who were looking to free up salary cap space in the offseason.

Mostert wins weekly award

Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert won AFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday after his 115 rushing yards and three total touchdowns Sunday against the Panthers.

Mostert is the second Miami tailback to win the award after rookie running back De’Von Achane earned it for his Week 3 game against the Denver Broncos. The last time an NFL team had two different running backs win Offensive Player of the Week honors in the same season was in 2016, when Pittsburgh’s DeAngelo Williams (Week 1) and Le’Veon Bell (Week 14) each accomplished the feat.

The Dolphins also had quarterback Tua Tagovailoa do it following Week 1, so the team has had the conference’s top offensive performance in three of the season’s first six weeks.

Other injury updates

The Dolphins will not have center Connor Williams or cornerback Xavien Howard at Wednesday’s practice as they recover from groin injuries with hopes of playing Sunday at Philadelphia.

Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead “has a glow in his eye like he has high expectations for his return,” McDaniel said. Armstead is on IR with knee, ankle and back ailments.

McDaniel also reported no setbacks for De’Von Achane, with the rookie on injured reserve. Fellow rookie running back Chris Brooks will be out weeks, McDaniel repeated Wednesday.

The team feels well about veteran Jeff Wilson’s progress from ribs and finger injuries. McDaniel said he was ready for the Panthers game, but the team had to use the roster spot that was available on activating reserve offensive lineman Robert Jones in his return from a knee injury.

Practice squad move

The Dolphins, on Tuesday, signed linebacker Quinton Bell to the practice squad while releasing linebacker Chase Winovich from the practice squad with an injury settlement.

Bell has played in nine NFL games between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 and Atlanta Falcons in 2022, mostly as a special teams contributor. A seventh-round pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2019, he has been on the practice squads of the Raiders, Buccaneers and Falcons. He was with the Dolphins’ upcoming opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles, this past training camp.

Winovich played largely on special teams in three games where he was elevated from the practice squad. The Dolphins were out of elevations they could use on him and would’ve had to sign him to the active roster to bring him up for another game.

This story will be updated.