Miami Dolphins pass rusher Bradley Chubb is still out of action as he works to return from an ACL tear he suffered on New Year’s Eve last season. While he’s eligible to make his return from the PUP list at any point, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel thinks it’s still too soon for Chubb to get back on the practice field.
“I don’t expect to see Bradley this week and, as far as weeks moving forward, we’ll see. I don’t expect that to happen this week,” McDaniel said Monday morning.
Chubb, 28, tore an ACL in 2019 while he was a member of the Denver Broncos and returned in 2020 to earn his first career Pro Bowl honors. But that injury happened in a September game, giving the pass rusher a few extra months to work towards a return.
“The way he’s attacked and the way he’s come back from a pretty serious injury. I’m optimistic that I will, for sure, [see him play in 2024] just because we haven’t had any setbacks or anything,” McDaniel said. “I’m optimistic for that, but I can promise you that whenever he is back, he couldn’t have been back any sooner.
“Whenever we are able to see him, that’s as soon as we could’ve gotten him, just because of the sweat equity he’s put in. You wouldn’t know as a teammate that he hadn’t practiced this year just because he’s been around for everything. He’s made sure to keep himself so involved and use his leadership voice as a positive. I’ll be excited for when he gets back on the field, I don’t know when that’ll be.”
The Dolphins could use Chubb’s presence. Only three teams have fewer sacks through the first six weeks, and Miami’s pass rush took a blow a couple weeks ago when Jaelan Phillips suffered a season-ending knee injury.
For now, the Dolphins are relying on Emmanuel Ogbah, Chop Robinson, Quinton Bell, and Tyus Bowser at outside linebacker. Ogbah is the only one of that group who has recorded a sack so far this season. There’s also fifth-round rookie Mohamed Kamara, who hasn’t yet made his NFL debut.
Chubb, who was acquired by the Dolphins in a trade during the 2022 season, has 39.5 career sacks and finished 2023 with 11 sacks.
