Miami welcomes two of its top pass rushers back to practice on Wednesday.
The Miami Dolphins need help at edge rusher, but reinforcements could be on the way. Coach Mike McDaniel announced Monday that Pro Bowl linebacker Bradley Chubb and third-year pass rusher Cameron Goode begin practicing this week after their 21-day activation windows were opened.
“They’ll be out there practicing on Wednesday,” McDaniel told reporters. “That’s never lost on teammates when you have an extensive injury that happens in-season so then you are finishing the season rehabbing.
“The offseason program, they’re watching them rehab. The beginning of the season, they’re watching them rehab. While everyone’s on vacation, they are here rehabbing. So it’ll be exciting to get their windows started and they’ll be practicing on Wednesday.”
Chubb tore his ACL in Week 17 last season against the Baltimore Ravens, ending a career year with 11 sacks and six forced fumbles. Goode, a 2022 seventh-round pick, suffered a season-ending knee injury in Miami’s Week 18 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
“I think just from a team standpoint, any time you have, like I said, guys that are sacrificing day in, day out, right in front of you, just having them to start practice; that in itself, beyond the players but the people, you inherently don’t take as much for granted when you’re out there watching them go through it and been fortunate enough to be for all the teammates that will be out there with them,” McDaniel said.
With just 1.8 sacks per game, the Dolphins rank 29th in the league. Chubb and Goode’s return could help an edge-rushing unit that combined for only nine sacks through 12 games.
Uncertainty at Cornerback
The Dolphins faced a tough Thanksgiving Day loss, entering their 30-17 defeat to the Green Bay Packers without cornerback Kendall Fuller (concussion) and losing both Cam Smith (shoulder) and Kader Kohou (back) during the game.
Fuller, who suffered his second concussion of the 2024 season during Monday Night Football against the Rams, hasn’t played since Nov. 11. However, head coach Mike McDaniel expressed optimism for Sunday’s game following discussions with Fuller and the medical team.
As for Kohou and Smith, their status remains uncertain. McDaniel provided updates on both players:
- Kader Kohou: [He’s] still working through [the back injury], and it’s not something that’s in the conversation of a roster adjustment or whatever. Whether or not he’s going to be ready for this game, that’s a little too early to tell, I think.
- Cam Smith: His injury was a little more severe. What that means for – I would say that would be week-to-week. Discussing ways to attack it, but it was a rough injury that will keep him out for this week. I know that much.
The Dolphins barely hold onto playoff hopes but can right the ship at Hard Rock Stadium this weekend against a New York Jets team that has lost nine of the last 10 games. Wednesday’s injury report will give us a first look at which of these five defenders will be available for Week 14.
