The Miami Dolphins reel as CB Kader Kohou is lost for the 2025 season to a knee injury. With safety Ashtyn Davis also hurt, how will the defense recover?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The optimism of a new season took a gut punch in Miami Gardens this week. Head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Wednesday the news every Dolphins fan dreaded: starting cornerback Kader Kohou will miss the entire 2025 season after suffering a right knee injury in practice. The loss is a massive blow, sidelining the lone returning starter in a secondary that was already undergoing a significant transformation.
'This is tough but I guarantee I'm going to come back better.' - Kader Kohou, as quoted by Head Coach Mike McDaniel.
The devastating injury occurred during Saturday's training camp session, but the final verdict came down Wednesday as McDaniel announced Kohou will be placed on injured reserve. Kohou was a reliable force last season with 45 tackles, 8 passes defensed, and 2 interceptions. While McDaniel lamented the loss, he praised Kohou's resilient spirit. 'His mindset is incredible,' McDaniel told reporters, sharing that Kohou's message to him was, 'This is tough but I guarantee I'm going to come back better.' It's a testament to the player's character, but it doesn't solve the immediate problem on the field.
As if the Kohou news wasn't enough, the secondary took another hit on Tuesday. Safety Ashtyn Davis, a key free-agent acquisition competing for a starting job, went down with a lower leg injury. The sight was 'ominous-looking' as Davis left the field on crutches with a boot on his left foot. However, Coach McDaniel delivered a sliver of good news Wednesday, stating it wasn't a 'worst-case scenario' and that Davis will be re-evaluated in a few days. While fans can breathe a small sigh of relief, Davis's absence further thins the depth at a critical time.
Suddenly, the Dolphins' cornerback room is under an intense microscope. The recent signing of veteran nickel corner Mike Hilton looks more crucial than ever. Beyond Hilton, the depth chart includes Jack Jones, last year's rookie Cam Smith, draftees Storm Duck and Jason Marshall Jr., and veterans like Kendall Sheffield. Is that enough? McDaniel isn't closing the door on outside help. When asked about signing another cornerback, the coach acknowledged it's a possibility the front office is exploring ahead of next week's joint practices with the Chicago Bears.
The blows have been heavy, but the season waits for no one. All eyes will now be on this patched-together secondary as they head to Chicago for joint practices next week. It will be the first major test for a shuffled defensive backfield and a critical evaluation period for the coaching staff as they look to solidify the roster before the September 7th opener against the Colts.
