MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb won’t be activated when his 21-day window to return expires Wednesday, that means he’ll miss your entire 2024 season.
Chubb tore the ACL, meniscus and patellar tendon in his proper knee Dec. 31, 2023, and has not performed since. He started this season on the bodily unable to carry out checklist, however returned to observe earlier this month. Because the activation deadline approached, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stated Chubb and the workforce agreed that he wasn’t able to contribute on the degree to which he is accustomed.
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The workforce expects Chubb again in 2025.
“He had been very affected person within the course of, very open-minded and had development as the method went,” McDaniel stated. “However finally, all of us determined that we did not suppose he would be capable of be the participant that he expects — that all of us count on. Simply wanted just a little bit extra time that, sadly, the season could not supply us. So he is nonetheless all in it, and he was dissatisfied, however he additionally understands the large image at stake and goes to be sure that when he is on the sector for the Dolphins, that everybody feels the participant that he is aware of he’s.”
McDaniel stated that it was “unknown” whether or not Chubb would be capable of return when the workforce opened his activation window, however that it was an in depth sufficient name to attempt. Whereas the Dolphins’ playoff probabilities have remained slim all through the second half of the season, McDaniel stated the choice to not activate him was made “unbiased of the place we’re at with the season.”
Whereas all events are dissatisfied to not see Chubb on the sector this season, McDaniel stated that even getting so far is a major milestone and removes some uncertainty from this coming offseason.
“It was a big-time harm that took an absolute calendar 12 months of pressure and work to only get into that place,” he stated. “And I do not suppose it is the method, though we’re not seeing him this 12 months, it was very useful to have the ability to work via that. Now, you are not ready in offseason with, ‘What’s it going to be like?’ … He is aware of the place he’s at proper now and is aware of that he simply has just a little longer to construct to get to his commonplace of play and commonplace of execution.”
Since Week 5, Miami has been with out its different high go rusher in Jaelan Phillips, who tore an ACL and was positioned on season-ending injured reserve. In his place entered 2024 first-round decide Chop Robinson, who has been among the finest defensive gamers within the NFL no matter expertise over the previous two months.
Robinson’s six sacks are tied for the rookie lead and are 2.5 shy of Phillips’ rookie franchise file set in 2021. Since taking up as a full-time starter in Week 5, Robinson additionally has the third-highest stress fee and fifth-best go rush win fee within the NFL.
“What’s been memorable about his 12 months is that you simply discuss in regards to the anti-rookie wall,” McDaniel stated. “He actually began impacting the sport the increasingly he realized. And I believe that speaks to his every day diligence and his love for soccer, as a result of even a number of the finest rivals can fizzle out in the course of the month of December — simply because they’ve performed for eight extra weeks than they’ve ever performed soccer earlier than.
“I believe he is been what we anticipated. Nevertheless, there’s components of his recreation readiness and his means to compete towards vested veterans left and proper that we’re longing for. However he is matched or perhaps exceeded a few of these expectations in that manner.”
The Dolphins traded for Chubb halfway via the 2022 season and instantly signed him to a five-year, $110 million extension. Phillips is eligible for an extension, as effectively, however has suffered season-ending accidents in consecutive years after tearing an Achilles in 2023.
Chubb, Robinson and Phillips have but to take the sector collectively on the identical time however might kind a formidable trio in the event that they’re wholesome subsequent season. Since 2022, all three gamers rank within the high 10 amongst go rushers in each stress fee and go rush win fee.
