Dolphins’ Jordan reinstated by NFL after sitting out 2015

Ross, speaking minutes before the Dolphins took the field for the first practice of training camp, said he’s excited about the season.

Miami Dolphins Laremy Tunsil, left, and Branden Albert run a drill during the NFL football teams training camp in Davie, Fla., Friday, July 29, 2016.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross declined to make predictions for the 2016 season, but said he was excited about the state of the team – as well as the renovation of the stadium.

Dion Jordan has been conditionally reinstated to play in 2016, the National Football League announced Friday morning.

The NFL has reinstated Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan on a conditional basis following his yearlong suspension for violations of the substance-abuse policy. Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Jordan on Friday, when the Dolphins held their first practice. Jordan can participate in meetings and conditioning work immediately, and is expected to join practice soon. Jordan, 26, can become eligible for Week 1 of the regular season after a follow-up meeting with the NFL.

Jordan missed all of 2015 due to a violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, and he was previously suspended four games in 2014 after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

In 26 career games before last season’s suspension, Jordan registered just 46 tackles and three sacks, and he earned only one start.

Jordan is a pure pass-rusher, and if head coach Adam Gase allows him to play in 3rd-and-long situations and focus exclusively on getting to the quarterback, then he could finally become a useful commodity for the Dolphins. The Dolphins traded up in the draft to land the 6-foot-6, 275-pound pass rusher out of Oregon. They’re deep at defensive end with newcomers Mario Williams, Jason Jones and Andre Branch, and with Cameron Wake returning from Achilles tendon surgery.

“The first day of practice, everybody’s excited to get back out there”, Gase said.

“We’re still at the beginning stages of this”, Gase said. “I know we will be playing September 1 there”.

“I just know when he gets here, like I said, (it’s a) fresh start with me”, Gase said, “so I guess that’s really all that matters”.

Ross, a real estate magnate, said of the stadium renovation, “I’ve built over $20 billion worth of property and this is the most complex”.