Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb will miss the rest of the 2023 NFL season due to a damaged anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, the team’s head coach Mike McDaniel revealed on Monday.
On December 31, 2023, Chubb went down without making contact with anyone during the Dolphins’ 56-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He was sent back to the dressing room and never returned. When the injury occurred, the game had already ended. As a result, McDaniel received a lot of flak on social media for keeping the starting defense on the field when it wasn’t necessary.
“I mean, in retrospect, I would not have wanted him out there if I had known he was going to get hurt.” “It doesn’t look very smart at all,” the coach said. “The players wanted to go back in and play and finish the game properly before moving on to the next week.” And in this position, I have the ability to tell them no on everything. There are numerous decisions that I will scrutinize…. The intention is always deliberate. And I made the decision that the guys who went out there wanted to be there. “I’d love to have a time machine.”
The Dolphins not only lost a three-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher in Chubb, but also their season sack leader (11). The 27-year-old is in his sixth NFL season and has torn ACLs in both knees. He had his first in his left knee in 2019.
The Dolphins will also be without cornerbacks Jaelan Phillips, who had surgery on a torn right Achilles in November, and Xavien Howard, who left the game against the Ravens in the first quarter due to a foot ailment. McDaniel stated on Monday that he does not believe Howard will require surgery, but he may not play in the regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills on January 7.
The Dolphins are 11-5 and presently lead the American Football Conference East. The Bills (10-6) are right on their tail. As a result, the outcome of the game between the teams on January 7 will determine who wins the division title and the playoff matchups.
