Latest on Jalen Ramsey, Nik Needham, and Cedrick Wilson Jr.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The De’Von Achane intrigue was the biggest Miami Dolphins injury news Monday, but it was far from the only.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel provided updates on a number of key players who have yet to appear in a game this season. And he also talked at length about perhaps the most surprising Dolphins contributor of Week 5.

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Miami Dolphins News and Rumors

Jalen Ramsey Injury Update

Star cornerback Jalen Ramsey has come a long way since undergoing a full meniscus repair in late July.

Ramsey is now able to run — fast. We know this because he ran past the Dolphins beat in the moments after Sunday’s 15-point win over the New York Giants.

Saw Jalen Ramsey running in the tunnel. Not sprinting. Running.

Cutting is the important thing.

— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) October 8, 2023

That’s encouraging.

Here’s what’s even more encouraging: What McDaniel said when asked about Ramsey Monday.

“Well, he hasn’t sprinted yet, except past you guys,” McDaniel said with a chuckle. “… He’s doing a great job. He’s a special breed. And he is on the positive side of return for sure.”

In the immediate aftermath of Ramsey’s training camp injury, the belief was that Ramsey would be out until the holidays. But perhaps he will beat that timeline. McDaniel has said that Ramsey is ahead of schedule.

More Cornerback Help Coming?

A far more imminent return for Miami? That of Nik Needham, who is nearing the year anniversary of his torn Achilles.

That’s the typical timeline to return from Achilles tendon ruptures, and Needham, by all accounts, should be back soon — if not this week.

MORE: Week 5 NFL Injuries Recap

His three-week practice window to return to the active roster opened last Wednesday, so the Dolphins don’t need to make a decision yet. But given their shakiness at corner beyond Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou, expect the Dolphins to activate him as soon as they believe he’s ready.

PFN asked McDaniel on Monday how both Needham and Robert Jones (IR — knee) got through the week of practice. This was his response:

“No setbacks. We’re feeling good about it. I’m excited about, you know, continuing to push the envelope Wednesday, and you know, there’s — at any moment that could happen there. We’re just making sure that it’s a healthy return to ball, which is what they both have signed up for.”

Cedrick Wilson, WR3?

With 29 snaps on Sunday, veteran receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. was on the field for the majority of his team’s offensive plays for the first time as a Miami Dolphin.

What’s more, Wilson had more catches (four) and receiving yards (52) than any of his prior games in aqua and orange — credit Wilson for seizing the opportunity created by injuries to River Cracraft and Erik Ezukanma.

Tua 23-yd pass to Cedrick Wilson#NYGiants 0 #Dolphins 0 1st pic.twitter.com/GtvAamFGe0

— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) October 8, 2023

On Monday, McDaniel explained the increased role:

“We were planning on having him having more opportunities. He has been playing very, very well in practice, and then you know, really in the game, he made a ton of plays in the pass game, and you know, there’s even more in the run game he did.

“We asked him to do some heavy lifting, with some point-of-attack blocks on the perimeter, and he executed it. Not only was he willing, but he executed some tough blocks, some tough downs that really opened some stuff up in the run game. So his imprint on the game was very positively felt by all of his teammates and really helped in a lot of results.”