On Tuesday, the Dolphins added one other chapter to their disappointing 2024 by asserting that outdoors linebacker Bradley Chubb will not play this season.
Per ESPN Dolphins reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques, Miami declined to activate his window to return kind damage, ending any probability of Chubb enjoying this season.
Chubb suffered a devastating knee injury on Dec. 31, 2023, tearing his ACL, meniscus and patellar tendon.
The Dolphins (7-8) have fallen wanting preseason expectations. With two video games remaining, they’re three video games wanting their over-under win complete earlier than the season started (10 wins).
Miami should win out and obtain assist to make the playoffs for a 3rd consecutive season.
Will probably be with out one in every of its high 2023 edge-rushers in its last-ditch effort to qualify for the postseason. Final yr, Chubb had 11 sacks in 16 video games, his most since posting 12 sacks as a rookie in 2018.
The Dolphins acquired Chubb from the Broncos for a 2023 first-round choose — which Denver utilized in its commerce with the Saints for head coach Sean Payton — at the 2022 trade deadline.
Chubb has three years remaining on a five-year, $110M extension he signed with the Dolphins after being traded. His 2025 cap hit is $29.3M, a roughly 85% enhance from this season ($15.9M).
With rookie Chop Robinson’s emergence, Chubb could possibly be expendable. Robinson has six sacks, all in his final eight video games. As ESPN’s Invoice Barnwell famous, Robinson has produced “fast pressures on the highest fee of any go rusher in soccer.”
Nevertheless, Louis-Jacques reported Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel stated the choice to close Chubb down for the season wasn’t “based mostly on anybody however Bradley.”
With Miami observing sizable cap numbers from large receiver Tyreek Hill ($27.7M) and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ($39.4M), it is likely to be higher suited to utilizing the cash earmarked for Chubb on greater wants.
Nevertheless, Louis-Jacques notes that the Dolphins would solely see financial savings by designating Chubb as a post-June 1 minimize. If launched earlier than June 1, Miami would save $1.9M whereas incurring a $27.4M lifeless cap cost.
If he have been a post-June 1 minimize, the Dolphins would have $9.1M in lifeless cap in 2025 and $18.3M in 2026 whereas saving $20.2M in 2025.
Miami already has $17.1M in 2025 lifeless cash, together with $15.7M to former cornerback Xavien Howard. Including to that complete may not make as a lot sense as getting a manufacturing season from Chubb.
As Louis-Jacques additionally famous, a pass-rushing trio that features Chubb, Robinson and Jaelan Phillips, who suffered a season-ending ACL damage in Week 4, the Dolphins could possibly be formidable.
The Dolphins want Chubb to return wholesome and produce like he did in 2023. With their wage cap state of affairs, they haven’t any different choice.
