According to a league sources, Miami Dolphins safety Reshad Jones suffered a shoulder injury that could be season ending if an MRI confirms that Jones injured his rotator cuff.
The injury was first reported by NFL Network. The Dolphins (2-4) have not confirmed whether Jones' shoulder injury could be season ending, but league sources say Jones is seeking a second opinion on the initial diagnosis.
Jones, a 2015 Pro Bowler who has 50 tackles, half a sack and one interception in the six games he's played this season, has been dealing with shoulder soreness for weeks.
Last week Jones, the team's leading tackler in 2015, skipped all of Miami's practices because of a groin strain. But he played against the Pittsburgh Steelers, contributing five tackles and his first interception of the season.
If the Dolphins do decide to place Jones, who has started 80 games for Miami, on injured reserve, the Dolphins would be forced to finish out the season with some combination of Isa Abdul-Quddus, Michael Thomas and Walt Aikens as the team's starting safeties.
Abdul-Quddus, who has 32 tackles and two interceptions, could easily move to the strong safety spot considering that's where he's played most of his six-year NFL career.
However, he's battling a knee injury. And Aikens, a core special teams contributor, has spent the past two seasons serving as Jones' understudy.
Thomas started 13 games at free safety last season, but has spent most of this year splitting his time between nickel cornerback and free safety. In Miami's 30-15 victory over the Steelers, Thomas, who has 20 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble this season, split the safety reps with Abdul-Quddus.
The Dolphins could also target a free agent safety like Antrel Rolle or Louis Delmas, or promote A.J. Hendy up from the practice squad. Hendy, a former Maryland standout, was one of training camp's biggest surprises as an undrafted rookie. Plenty of people inside the organization believe Hendy is ready to be on Miami's 53-man roster.
The Dolphins have a little over $7 million committed to Jones after this season, but that money isn't guaranteed for injury.
