One of the Miami Dolphins’ thinnest position from a depth standpoint possible took another hit in Sunday’s second preseason game.
Cornerback Ethan Bonner, who started the game opposite Storm Duck, suffered what appears to be a right hamstring strain in the second quarter of Miami’s preseason game against the Detroit Lions. It’s possible that the injury might force Bonner to be sidelined for a week or more.
Bonner, who is entering his third season in the NFL, had been competing with Duck, Kendall Sheffield and Jack Jones to determine which cornerback would be starting on the boundary of Miami’s secondary. If the hamstring injury is serious the Dolphins will find themselves further depleted at an already thin position because of the team’s offseason decisions, and injuries suffered during training camp.
Miami traded Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and released Kendall Fuller at the end of the season. That means Miami was searching for two replacement starters. Artie Burns, one of two veterans added in free agency this offseason, suffered a season-ending knee injury in Miami’s first training camp practice, and Kader Kohou, the team’s starting nickel cornerback the past three seasons, also suffered a season-ending knee injury in camp’s first week.
The Dolphins have been forced to add Jones, a former starter for the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders, Mike Hilton, a veteran slot receiver, and Cornell Armstrong during training camp because of all the injuries. However, at this point the possible return of Cam Smith, who has been sidelined by a soft tissue injury, and Jason Marshall Jr., who is working his way back from a soft tissue issue, could allow Miami to make it through next week’s final week of training camp.