No. 3 pick of 2013 NFL Draft cleared to return to practice after suspension

Dion Jordan was suspended for the entire 2015 season after violating the league's PED policy

Dion Jordan has been cleared by the NFL to return to practice after more than a year away from the game.

Jordan, who has been suspended three times for violating the league's policy on performance enhancing drugs, had been conditionally reinstated by the NFL late last month. (The conditions include arranging treatment resources for Jordan in Miami prior to his being allowed to play in any preseason games, a meeting with the NFL to ensure he is complying with the conditions prior to being allowed to play in Week 1 of the regular season, and an in-season meeting with the NFL to ensure he is still complying with the conditions prior to a full reinstatement.) Jordan's still not healthy enough to practice, but when he is, there's no longer anything standing in the way of a return.

Back in 2013, the Dolphins made Jordan the third overall pick in the NFL draft. Jordan was a raw, but impressive physical specimen coming out of Oregon as a pass-rusher.

During his final two years with the Ducks, Jordan recorded 86 tackles (23.5 for loss) and 12.5 sacks. He then measured out as a physical monster at the combine: 6-foot 6 1/4 inches, 33 7/8 inch arms, 10-inch hands, 4.54 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 7.02 seconds in the three cone drill, 32.5-inch vertical, 10-feet 2-inch broad jump.

He then had an up-and-down first season, playing in all 16 games but only making it onto the field for 28.8 percent of the Dolphins' defensive snaps. He was mildly productive in that playing time, notching 26 tackles and two sacks. But then his troubles began.

He was suspended for four games at the start of the 2014 season after violating the performance enhancing drug policy, then had two games tacked onto that suspension when he violated the policy again. He returned for the final 10 games of the season, played 20.9 percent of the Dolphins' snaps, and recorded 20 tackles and one sack.

He was then suspended again for the entire 2015 season thanks to yet another violation of the performance enhancing drug policy. Jordan now returns to a team that could use some help in the pass rush department, having lost Olivier Vernon this offseason, but which also has established starters entrenched at left and right end in Cameron Wake and Mario Williams. He'll likely have to play his way into a rotational role.