Two-time Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones rejoins Dolphins after skipping voluntary practices

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Now that Reshad Jones has rejoined the Miami Dolphins, he says he hopes to play for them this season.

The two-time Pro Bowl safety reported to mandatory minicamp after skipping earlier voluntary offseason practices under first-year coach Brian Flores . Those absences fueled speculation he might be traded and perhaps preferred to play elsewhere.

Not so, Jones said Tuesday.

“I’m here,” he said. “I love this city, I love the fans. I’d love to be a part of the Dolphins organization.”

Jones, the team’s highest-paid player at $13 million this year, said he chose to work out on his own rather than attend voluntary team practices partly because he was recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.

“Voluntary mean voluntary, so I took the time to get physically ready to play a 16-game stretch coming off a surgery in February,” he said.

Asked about his health now, Jones said, “I’m not 100%, but I’m close.” He participated fully in the first of this week’s three workouts that conclude the Dolphins’ offseason drills.

“It’s great to see him,” Flores said. “He looks like he’s in really good shape.”

That’s a given, Jones said.

“I don’t really have to prove anything to anybody,” he said. “I’ve been one of the best safeties in this league for a long time. I put the work in year in and year out. That’s my pattern.”

Other Miami players rehabbing injuries attended the voluntary practices. Flores shrugged off Jones’ absences but has made no guarantees about his playing time.

The rebuilding Dolphins also have veteran safety T.J. McDonald, and 2018 first-round draft pick Minkah Fitzpatrick and veteran Bobby McCain can play safety as well as cornerback.

Jones’ role was an issue last year under coach Adam Gase. Jones took himself out of a midseason game against the New York Jets and watched the second half from the sideline, unhappy with a plan to rotate safeties.

Flores said he hasn’t discussed that episode with Jones.

“My conversations with Reshad are about playbook, communication, fundamentals, technique,” Flores said. “Last year is last year.”

Jones said the Dolphins were OK with his decision to skip voluntary practices, and he looks forward to playing for Flores.

“We’ve had minimal relations, minimal talks, but I know he’s a straightforward guy,” Jones said. “He kept it real with me once we were communicating about me not being here.”