Dolphins to sign cornerback Eli Apple following Jalen Ramsey injury
The Miami Dolphins will sign cornerback Eli Apple to replace injured cornerback Jalen Ramsey
The Dolphins, who were rocked by the loss of All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey to a left knee injury late in Thursday’s practice, are signing cornerback Eli Apple, the Sun Sentinel has confirmed.
Apple’s signing, first reported by NFL Network, is a quick response to Ramsey’s surgery, which was Friday afternoon and might keep him sidelined until December.
Apple will add depth behind starters Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou, but he could contend for a starting job in the nickel package as well as the base package.
Apple was a 2016 first-round pick by the New York Giants out of Ohio State, interestingly the second cornerback selected (No. 10) after Ramsey, the No. 5 selection.
Apple spent two-and-a-half seasons with the Giants, falling out of favor in his second season before being traded to New Orleans in October 2018. He has since bounced around among New Orleans (2018-19), Carolina (2020) and Cincinnati (2021-22).
Apple has 71 starts in 81 games and five interceptions.
You might remember Apple has previously had a beef with Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
You might also recall Hill being excited to hear the Dolphins were playing the Bengals last season.
Once Tyreek Hill was informed the Dolphins are playing the Bengals Thursday, he immediately started talking trash to Eli Apple #Bengals #Dolphins
"I owe you, boy" pic.twitter.com/FYkTa7c9k8
— Yianni Kourakis (@WPBF_Yianni) September 26, 2022
Hill tweeted a reply Saturday afternoon to the news of Apple’s signing:
Monday practice gone be fun https://t.co/UpsL3FzGAB
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) July 29, 2023
Setting aside that projected drama, Apple could be a welcome addition to the Dolphins’ cornerbacks rotation and secondary.
Rookie Cam Smith, the second-round pick, would seem to be the favorite to be the third cornerback in the nickel package alongside Howard and Kohou, most likely on the boundary with Kohou in the slot.
Cornerback Nik Needham, who has experience in the slot, is on the PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform) as he recovers from an Achilles injury
Apple would likely be a boundary cornerback.