Miami Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones posted an image on Instagram on Wednesday morning, indicating he had a recent surgery performed on his lower left leg.
Jones, who has trade buzz surrounding him this offseason, posted two pictures — one that shows his left leg shaved up to the knee before the procedure and another of the lower leg in a boot, kicked up on a hospital bed with crutches leaned up against the boot.
“Having a shaved leg is cool but it is NOT worth the free surgery afterwards,” Jones, 29, wrote in the caption to the post that had a geographic tag of New York City.
Although posted on Wednesday, it is unknown when the surgery took place. Several Dolphins teammates commented on the post, wishing him a speedy recovery.
The surgery was reportedly on a lingering left ankle injury, according to NFL Network. The report said it’s expected to keep him out for two months, which wouldn’t put Jones’ availability for training camp ahead of the season in jeopardy.
Jones, the Dolphins’ highest-paid player last year with a cap hit of $16.1 million, missed one game during the season, the Oct. 17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London with Achilles and groin injuries, according to the team’s injury report that week.
In the weeks that followed, he had the same two injuries listed on the report as he returned to play. He also once had a quadriceps injury listed that he played through against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 10. For much of November through the end of the season, Jones was largely off the injury report, aside from missing two practices for veteran rest.
In what could be purely coincidental, the post comes the day after reported interested from the Dolphins in top free-agent cornerback J.C. Jackson, who had 17 interceptions the past two seasons for the New England Patriots.
Boston Globe columnist Ben Volin tweeted Tuesday there has been “some buzz” about the Dolphins pursuing Jackson, who would be a high-priced free agent. Such a move would pair Jackson with Miami defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, who once coached him in New England, and fellow Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard, who seeks more money this offseason in a renegotiation of his contract.
Such an acquisition would likely mean that the Dolphins will be looking to trade Jones, a process that could get complicated if Jones is coming off recent surgery.
Jones’ base salary of $14.375 for the 2022 season is fully guaranteed, which would also make an outright release difficult.
In two seasons with the Dolphins, Jones has two interceptions — both in 2020 — 95 tackles, 14 pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. While outplayed by Howard on the opposite side, the single coverage Howard and Jones are asked to play on boundary receivers has been instrumental in allowing Miami’s defense to send extra pass rushers, including blitzing safeties.
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