Dion Jordan's stay on the non-football injury list was a brief one.
The Miami Dolphins rookie defensive end was seen in pads before Tuesday's practice, and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reported that Jordan has been activated for duty. The former University of Oregon pass rusher was expected to miss up to two weeks of training camp because of the surgically repaired shoulder he has nursed all offseason.
Had Jordan not been activated before the Dolphins' final roster cuts, he would have remained shelved for the first six weeks of the regular season.
"I feel real good, first of all just being out there with the guys and being able to run around and hit things," Jordan said, "and just get back to normal football routine."
Now, the third overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft enters a fight with Olivier Vernon for the edge-rushing slot across from Cameron Wake. Even if Jordan doesn't wind up starting at end, the Dolphins will find ways to creatively use him. He can play outside linebacker and -- on a defense filled with talent up front -- there's an argument for bringing Jordan along at the proper pace.
The Herald's Armando Salguero tweeted Tuesday -- which was the first day the Dolphins worked out in pads -- that "the idea Dion Jordan is practicing is exaggerated," saying Jordan has "not participated in any contact work or team drills." Instead, Jordan hoped to be doing team and individual drills within "the next couple of days," Salguero reported.
Patience obviously is required, but getting back on the field represents a solid first step for the young defender.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
