Miami Dolphins edge rusher tore his ACL, Patella, and meniscus against the Baltimore Ravens
Miami Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb was in the middle of a career year with 11 sacks, six forced fumbles, and 73 total tackles before his season was cut short in Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens. Nearly 12 months following the injury, the two-time Pro Bowler spoke to the media this week for the first time since tearing his ACL, patella, and meniscus last December.
“It’s been an up-and-down journey for sure,” Chubb said Thursday. “Starting from getting the surgery and that being almost a five-hour surgery at the time, and coming back home and having my mom and dad there with me, my girlfriend there with me helping me out throughout the whole process. Seeing from when I was there, to where I am now, man, it’s been nothing short of a blessing.
“So just being able to keep chopping wood, carrying water each and every day, continue to have a positive mindset as I approach the building every day, it wasn’t easy but at the end of the day, man, it got me to where I am right now and continue to move forward.”
Chubb’s window to be activated opened on Dec. 2 and he’s questionable to make his debut Sunday against the Houston Texans after being limited in practice throughout the week.
“It’s been feeling good,” Chubb said of his gradual increase in practice workload. “I’m just taking it day by day. I’m not trying to look big picture right now, just trying to see how I feel each and every day, how it responds to each and every different obstacle that’s thrown at me right now. So far, it’s been good, so hopefully it trends in the right direction.”
The Dolphins, who are tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for the second-fewest sacks in the NFL (24), could certainly use Chubb’s pass-rushing expertise against the Texans and quarterback C.J. Stroud — who’s already been sacked 42 times through 13 games this season. That being said and considering the severity of Chubb’s injury, any return to the field this season is a major success.
“Being on that field the last time screaming and holding my leg and doing all this [rehab], it would be cool to get back on there and have a new memory of my last football snap,” Chubb said. “But at the end of the day, I’m just thankful to be where I’m at right now in this process.
“I know it’s going to be a continued uphill climb, but the past 11 months have prepped me for that, so I’m excited just about where I am.”
