Dolphins Cornered: Recent Injury Mounts Pressure On Defense

The Miami Dolphins have entered training camp with the injuries already starting to pile up.

Per ESPN Insider Adam Schefter, Dolphins’ cornerback Artie Burns is out for the season with a torn ACL.

In response to Burns’ injury, the Dolphins went out and signed Cornell Armstrong to help mend the brutal loss.

The team will now need to lean even more on unproven players in a position group that looks like the weakest on the roster.

The Dolphins need their defense to respond quickly this season, or it could spell a quick season’s exit for South Florida’s team.

Burns Out, Pressure In

Artie Burns was brought in to be a key piece of the Dolphins’ secondary.

An ACL tear in training camp ends his season before it starts and leaves a shaky secondary even more vulnerable.

Just a few weeks ago, the Dolphins traded away star cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

Now, with Burns gone, the Dolphins are staring at a glaring hole in the boundary of the defense.

In response, Miami went out and signed CB Cornell Armstrong.

This will be Armstrong’s second stint in a Dolphins uniform.

The signing isn’t a game-changer, but it at least adds depth to a vulnerable spot.

The Dolphins need the rest of their young cornerbacks to step up, quickly.

Storm Duck, Cam Smith and Kader Kohou will look to be the top players tasked with holding down opposing team’s pass catchers.

Whether they’re ready or not, they will be tested early and often.

Dolphins Defense Must Deliver

The burden on the Dolphins’ defense just got heavier.

That’s bad news for a team that is already looking to sustain success with questions surrounding their quarterback.

Tua Tagovailoa returns to the lineup after missing most of the 2024 season due to a concussion.

Moreover, no matter how good Tagovailoa looks in camp, questions will still circle.

There is no better way to help with question marks on offense than with a defense that is stout and ready to play.

Additionally, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will need to get creative.

Leaning on pass rushers Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and Chop Robinson would be a good start.

First round pick Kenneth Grant will look to provide stability within the interior and help those young corners hold out.

Newly acquired safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will need to make his impact felt early to help shape an identity for this young secondary.

If the defense breaks down early in the season, Tua and the offense will feel the ripple effects.

More points allowed will equal more pressure on the Dolphins’ offense to continue scoring.

The Dolphins are looking to be back in the thick of the AFC and need to make a playoff push or else things could get ugly, fast.

The pressure is sky-high for the Dolphins’ defense to keep games in reach while Tua regains his rhythm.

If Miami can’t tighten up their backend, the entire season could unravel quickly.

Training camp injuries are never a welcome sight, especially at a position that could define the Dolphins season.