The Miami Dolphins’ starting cornerback, Kader Kohou, will miss the entirety of the 2025-26 season after struggling a knee damage through the group’s apply this previous Saturday, in accordance with ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques.
Kohou is the second member of Miami’s secondary to endure a season-ending damage prior to now seven days. Last week, cornerback Artie Burns was dominated out for the 2025-26 marketing campaign after tearing his ACL. Also, security Ashtyn Davis “will miss time” as a result of a non-contact leg damage.
“I noticed him ascend to a unique degree [this offseason],” mentioned head coach Mike McDaniel. “The timing of it – I used to be crushed till I talked to Kader, and actually, Kader made me really feel a bit bit higher, just by his mindset. You don’t know the whys on a regular basis when issues occur, and I get involved for guys who get caught in that world of a fixation for ‘alternatives misplaced.’ Kader’s mindset triggered like that, to the place he mentioned, ‘This is hard, however I assure I’m going to return again higher.’ That is the best way to method each the sport of soccer and life.”
Kader Kohou joined the Miami Dolphins in 2022 as an undrafted free agent. Since coming into the NFL, he has appeared in 47 video games. Last season was arguably Kohou’s greatest after he recorded two interceptions, eight cross deflections, and a pressured fumble in 9 begins.
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The Dolphins’ secondary is screwed
With Kohou’s damage, the Dolphins will open the 2025-26 season with none secondary starters from final yr. They traded Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers, let Jevon Holland stroll in free company, and launched Kendall Fuller. Meanwhile, Jordan Poyer stays unsigned as a free agent.
I’ve by no means seen a group this decimated throughout the board in any respect main defensive again positions. First, they misplaced Artie Burns, who was signed to a one-year contract this low season. In all probability, he would’ve competed for one of many beginning cornerback spots. Now, Kohou is gone too, which implies Mike Hilton – whom the Dolphins signed two days in the past – will in all probability be the group’s beginning cornerback. Ashtyn Davis is predicted to overlook a while (no matter meaning), so rookie fifth-rounder Dante Trader Jr. will in all probability need to step up and be a starter in his absence. I doubt that was the plan for him when he was initially drafted.
From a defensive again standpoint, this has been a disastrous low season for Miami. They removed their clear-cut greatest cornerback for a top-flight security in Minkah Fitzpatrick. Though he’s a Pro Bowl-caliber participant, having a very good cornerback is extra priceless to defensive recreation plans than having an elite security. A top-notch cornerback can typically remove a complete facet of the sphere if he’s adequate. That is sort of by no means the case in the case of safeties.
Dolphins followers must be very involved in regards to the group’s defensive prowess going into this season. One of the most important explanation why they had been in a position to stay aggressive final yr, even with out Tua Tagovailoa, was due to the protection, which was ninth in passing yards allowed and speeding yards allowed. This season, although, anticipate them to surrender much more yards, particularly by means of the air.
It’s additionally price noting that the ‘Phins had been one of many league’s worst groups when it got here to forcing turnovers. They had been twenty seventh in takeaways and tied for twenty second in interceptions. With this slew of current accidents, interceptions shall be even more durable to return by this season in South Florida.
Mike McDaniel goes to need to placed on a training masterclass if he desires his squad to return to the playoffs for the primary time since January 2024. McDaniel must scheme up some spectacular offensive play calls to maintain Miami aggressive as a result of they’re going to have quite a lot of points on the defensive facet of the ball through the 2025-26 marketing campaign.
