What's up with Jaylen Ramsey's Knee?

On July 27th, 2023, it was reported that Jalen Ramsey had suffered a knee injury and practice and was taken off the field as a result. Later, we came to find out that he had a tear in the meniscus in his right knee. We also learned that he would undergo surgery, effectively sidelining him until December, at the very least. Now, this information is great, but what does it really mean for not only Ramsey but for the Dolphins' future with the All-Pro corner? Let's find out.

Firstly, what the heck is a meniscus? Well, the meniscus in your knees is a rubbery, C-shaped piece of cartilage that acts as a cushion for the knee. Simply put, it's the shock absorber for your knee. It helps to keep your knee moving comfortably, preventing the upper and lower leg bones from rubbing against each other, which would result in a shit-ton of pain (like when I see a New England Tom Brady Jersey). It also helps with weight distribution in the knee and provides stability in the joint. Essentially, the meniscus is a very, very important part of your knee.

When we were told the extent of Jalen Ramsey's knee injury, we learned he had a torn meniscus in his right knee. This means that the cartilage in his right knee had torn, which could cause instability in that knee, preventing him from being able to play football. On top of this, the fact that he required surgery for the knee furthermore shows how badly he tore it. But looking at his injury history, this might have been an injury waiting to happen. He had already damaged the meniscus in the right knee in 2016, which resulted in what is called a "knee cleanup" in layman's terms. Essentially, doctors had removed the damaged parts of the meniscus in that right knee, making the meniscus smaller in his knee. And while this removes pain and instability, it also thins the meniscus a bit, which could result in future injury. And unfortunately, this possibility became true. Thankfully, this time around, Ramsey is getting a full meniscus repair, so he won't have to worry about a thinned-down meniscus.

So what does this mean for Ramsey? Well, firstly, he won't be able to play football for a while. According to multiple sources, he is expected to be out until December, at the earliest. It usually takes 3-6 months to return from a meniscus tear and subsequent surgery, but because this is an insanely wealthy NFL player, his access to state-of-the-art rehab facilities will likely shorten his total recovery time. That and some holiday spirit should do the trick. And also, since he's getting a full meniscus repair, it can prolong his playing career by multiple years, since he basically gets a brand-new meniscus. Now he may be rusty when he returns to play for Miami, but overall his performance shouldn't be altered since his access to professional facilities will help him get right back to where he was.

What does this mean for Miami? Well, firstly, it means that Ramsey is out for a good chunk of the season. For that reason, they signed cornerback Eli Apple to provide them with a pretty damn good replacement for Ramsey. He isn't quite Ramsey, but when he shuts his mouth, he's a good corner. This situation also gives Miami a chance to develop their second-round pick Cam Smith by giving him some in-game experience. And from what we've seen in the preseason and practices thus far, Cam Smith is the real deal. And as for Ramsey's future knee health in Miami, the surgery should significantly help his right knee out and possibly prolong his stretch of All-Pro play down in South Beach.

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