Miami Dolphins pass rusher Bradley Chubb will not participate in the 2024 season as he continues to recover from a significant knee injury sustained at the end of last year.
Chubb has spent this season on the physically unable to perform list after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament, meniscus, and patellar tendon in his right knee on New Year’s Eve. Earlier this month, the Dolphins opened a 21-day practice window for Chubb to potentially return, but the team ultimately decided against activating him by the Christmas Day deadline.
“It came down to this,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel stated on Tuesday. “We didn’t want to take reps away from players who are performing well. Bradley takes that seriously. He has worked hard throughout the process to be the player we know he can be, and he understands what that entails.”
McDaniel praised Chubb for his patience and open-mindedness during the recovery process, but emphasized that the decision was made collectively, as they felt he needed more time to reach the level of play expected of him.
After participating in a few practices this month, Chubb expressed optimism about his recovery but remained uncertain about his return this season. “I’m just taking it day by day,” he said. “I’m focusing on how I feel and how my body responds to different challenges, and so far, it has been positive.”
McDaniel confirmed that Chubb did not experience any setbacks in recent weeks. The decision to open his practice window was made to assess his readiness after undergoing extensive surgery that lasted nearly five hours.
“You don’t have a crystal ball,” McDaniel said. “The only way to know if he can play is to give him that opportunity. I was careful not to set expectations because this was a serious injury that required a full year of recovery just to get to this point.”
The Dolphins, currently holding a 7-8 record, are vying for a wild-card playoff spot alongside the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals. They must win their remaining two games and rely on other teams for help to secure a postseason berth.
“It’s very straightforward,” McDaniel remarked. “I never feel comfortable giving up. These are people’s dreams, and I understand the significance of each game in their careers.”
The Dolphins have also faced challenges this season with star pass rusher Jaelan Phillips sidelined. Phillips returned from a season-ending Achilles injury in 2023, but a torn right ACL in Week 4 has cut his 2024 season short as well. This situation has allowed rookie linebacker Chop Robinson to step up, as he has recorded six sacks, seven tackles for loss, and 13 quarterback hits despite a slow start.
McDaniel clarified that Robinson’s emergence did not influence the decision regarding Chubb’s activation. “No decision was made based on anything but Bradley,” he said. “This is his career, and we take that seriously. He has worked incredibly hard, and our decision was independent of our season’s status or roster situation.”
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