Miami Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones appeared to retire as he took to social media to lament his injuries and criticise the NFL medical practices.
Jones missed the entire 2022 season after he was placed on the physically unable to perform list. Achilles surgery in March 2022 meant the 30-year-old failed to pass a physical, keeping him from returning to the Dolphins, who were eliminated by the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.
Jones’ recovery did not proceed as originally planned, which led to him unexpectedly missing the entirety of last season. On Saturday, the 2018 Pro Bowler decided to send a number of messages on social media warning players against the NFL medical practices used on him, while he sent another post that seemed to allude to his potential retirement.
The former Dallas Cowboys defensive back used his post as a note to the future of the league, warning others to avoid his plight. Jones set the all-time world record for the Broad Jump with a leap of 12’3” during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine - but now he ‘can’t run or jump’.
“Much has changed in eight years,” Jones wrote while reposting the NFL’s Tweet from February 2015 celebrating his incredible Broad Jump. “Today I can’t run or jump because of my injuries sustained playing this game. DO NOT take the pills they give you. DO NOT take the injections they give you. If you absolutely must, consult an outside doctor to learn the long-term implications.
“It was an honour 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.”
His warning comes just two days before the next scouting combine, which runs from February 27 to March 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The event is used by NFL franchises to understand, scout and evaluate talent ahead of the draft, with this year’s edition set to take place from April 27-29 in Kansas City.
Jones is the second NFL player to call out league medical practices this week, after New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas took to social media. Both Jones and Thomas missed time for their respective teams last season due to injury. Thomas wrote: “The NFL medical sucks, cheap and uneducated. Their job requires barely any education or curriculum.”
He later added: “Well at least in some places I know.”
Jones was drafted by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft on the back of his incredible combine performance. He finished his rookie season with 67 combined tackles and nine pass deflections through 11 starts in 16 games.
He signed a five-year deal worth $82million with Miami in 2020 to become the highest paid cornerback in the NFL. If Jones is truly stepping away from the league, he recorded four interceptions, 444 tackles, three quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and 57 pass deflections across 109 career games with the Cowboys and Dolphins.
