Injuries Hit the Dolphins Early in Training Camp; 2016 Draft Pick Feared to Have Torn ACL
Just two days into Dolphins training camp, and injuries are already beginning to mount. Miami is now even thinner at cornerback and has also lost a key depth piece on the offensive line. Veteran cornerback Artie Burns is feared to have suffered a torn ACL after going down during the first full day of practice, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Burns was seen leaving camp on crutches and is expected to undergo an MRI and get a second opinion to confirm the extent of the injury. The 30-year-old signed with the Dolphins in March to provide depth in an already thin secondary.
With Jalen Ramsey now in Pittsburgh following a trade earlier this offseason, Miami’s need to reinforce the cornerback position has become even more urgent. Burns wasn’t the only player injured Wednesday. Offensive lineman Bayron Matos was also hurt during practice and was flown to a hospital with an undisclosed injury. The incident occurred in the final minutes of the first day. The team said Matos was airlifted in stable condition. Matos, a second-year offensive tackle from the Dominican Republic, joined the Dolphins as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program after going undrafted in 2024. He spent last season on the practice squad and had recently earned a reserve role on the roster.
With depth concerns mounting, the Dolphins have already started exploring the cornerback market. Rasul Douglas has been linked to Miami on multiple occasions this offseason. The eight-year veteran could offer a starting-caliber solution in the wake of Kendall Fuller’s release and the long-anticipated Ramsey trade. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that Miami and Douglas have been engaged in active contract talks.
Although Douglas’ market has remained quiet, the 29-year-old is not expected to return to the Packers, and the Bills have moved forward without him. Sources suggest the Dolphins and Douglas weren’t far apart financially earlier this month, making a potential deal increasingly plausible. Training camp has historically been unkind to Miami, with injuries often striking early, Jalen Ramsey being a prime example two seasons ago. With the regular season still weeks away, the team hopes the worst is behind them.
