The Miami Dolphins’ defense has been overmatched and overwhelmed in the four games since Jaelan Phillips tore his ACL. But a toothless pass rush could soon show its fangs.
There’s a chance that both defensive tackle Zach Sieler and EDGE Bradley Chubb will both play Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams.
Are Miami Dolphins’ Bradley Chubb, Zach Sieler Playing in Week 9?
Sieler hasn’t played since suffering an eye injury in practice two weeks ago.
Chubb hasn’t played since suffering what head coach Mike McDaniel called an “ACL-plus” injury last New Year’s Eve.
Dolphins’ standout OLB Bradley Chubb did in fact tear his ACL, per source. Chubb was hurt with three minutes left in Sunday’s game, when Miami trailed by 30.
Miami now will be without Chubb and Jaelen Phillips, who tore his Achilles vs the Jets the day after Thanksgiving. pic.twitter.com/IEBkPx8bAE
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 1, 2024
But McDaniel suggested both would practice this week — yet another sign the Dolphins are not closing up shop after a 2-6 start to the season. Defensive backs Jevon Holland (knee) and Kader Kohou (neck) could also make their returns after missing Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.
“So with Sieler, I’m optimistic about that timeline. And you know you have to take it day-by-day anyway, to accumulate information. But you know that was more safe of a timeline, you know, from his injury and so feel optimistic about that.
“And you know, I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I’m optimistic that we’ll see Bradley. But I do know that it’s very simple: The timeline is based on how his body’s responding. I saw him today outside my window running. He’s working incessantly on it. So, you know there’s hope and optimism. But we’ll see how that plays out.”
Getting them both back at once could be transformational for a defense that has blown second-half leads in each of the last three weeks, allowing 58 combined points after halftime in those three losses.
Miami’s pass rush has largely vanished since Phillips suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. In the four games since, the Dolphins have managed just three sacks, 44 pressures, and 17 quarterback hits in 142 dropbacks.
So the question isn’t whether Sieler and Chubb — who combined for 21 sacks in 2023 — will help. The question is whether it’s too late to make a difference for a Dolphins team that’s 2-6 and the 12th seed in the AFC at the season’s midway point.