Miami Dolphins pass rusher Bradley Chubb suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in Sunday’s 56-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, ending his season, coach Mike McDaniel announced Monday.
Chubb suffered a non-contact injury late in the fourth quarter Sunday and was taken back to the locker room shortly after. He was quickly ruled out for the rest of the match.
The fact that Chubb and the Dolphins’ defensive starters were on the field in a blowout loss drew instant criticism from fans on social media. McDaniel, in his second year at the helm, expressed regret in retrospect Sunday when asked about the decision to keep his starters with the game all but decided.
“I mean, in retrospect, I wouldn’t have wanted it at all if I knew I was going to get hurt… It doesn’t seem very smart at all,” he said. “The players wanted to get back to playing and finish the right way for next week. And I have the ability to say no to everything in this situation. There are a lot of decisions that I will look at… Intention always has a purpose and I made the decision that the guys who went out there wanted to be there.
“I’d like to have a time machine, sure.”
Chubb, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, leads the Dolphins with 11 sacks this season and took on a larger role after linebacker Jaelan Phillips tore his Achilles tendon in Week 12. Behind him are Andrew Van Ginkel, Melvin Ingram and Emmanuel Ogbah, who was inactive for Sunday’s game.
McDaniel suggested Monday that the Dolphins will explore the free agent market while maintaining confidence in the players already on the Dolphins roster.
Chubb has now suffered torn ACLs in both knees during his six-year NFL career. The former first-round pick tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in 2019 while playing for the Denver Broncos. Chubb also tore his left ACL in high school.
The Dolphins traded a first-round pick to Denver for Chubb at last season’s trade deadline, and immediately signed him to a five-year, $110 million contract extension after acquiring him.
McDaniel also said Monday that he does not anticipate cornerback Xavien Howard, who left Sunday’s game with a foot injury, to require surgery, but McDaniel does not expect him to play in Sunday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills that will determine the AFC East champion. . McDaniel described Howard as “week to week.”
Howard suffered the injury in the first quarter, during Baltimore’s first drive. He was taken to the locker room on a cart and discarded after further examination. The Ravens took advantage of his absence, with quarterback Lamar Jackson throwing for 321 yards and five touchdowns, finishing with a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
Howard, a 2022 Pro Bowler, has played in 13 of Miami’s 17 games this season, recording 45 tackles, 12 passes defended and one interception.
McDaniel also said Monday that he is not worried about the health of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who left Sunday night with a shoulder injury.
McDaniel said Tagovailoa’s injury is “not a big deal on my radar” as of Monday night. The NFL’s leading passer is expected to play against the Bills.
