Miami Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones missed the entire 2022 NFL season due to injury, and it looks like his NFL career may be coming to an end based on some recent comments he made on social media.
Jones recently took to Twitter and said that he cannot run or jump because of injuries that he has sustained playing the game of football.
In his message, Jones seemingly warned younger players — especially the incoming draft class of 2023 — to not take the “pills” or “injections” that teams offer to players.
It was an honor and privilege to play in the NFL but it came at a regrettable cost I did not foresee. In my opinion, no amount of professional success or financial gain is worth avoidable chronic pain and disabilities. Godspeed to the draft class of 2023.
— Byron Jones (@TheByronJones) February 25, 2023
Given the message, it seems very possible that Jones has actually played his final NFL snap. Jones underwent surgery on his Achilles in the 2022 offseason, and while he was expected to return to the field at some point in the 2023 campaign, that return never came.
Earlier in his playing days, Jones was considered to be one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He became a star with the Dallas Cowboys (who drafted him with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft), and there was a lot of excitement in South Florida when the Dolphins acquired him prior to the 2020 campaign.
Jones earned a Pro Bowl nod back in the 2018 season with Dallas.
He played well — and was mostly healthy — in his first two seasons with the Dolphins. That trend did not extend into 2022, however.
At just 30 years old, Jones would likely be able to play for a little while longer if not for health issues, but it looks like injuries could very well be cutting his professional career short.
If Jones does decide to call it a career, he’ll finish with 444 combined tackles, five forced fumbles, four interceptions, 57 passes defended and one defensive touchdown to his name.
As for the Dolphins, they already likely consider the cornerback position to be a prime area to add talent to this offseason. The rash of injuries that the Dolphins dealt with in that area of the field last season was a stark reminder of just how important depth is.
