The Miami Dolphins haven’t been quick to activate players after they return to practice from injury. So it’d be a surprise if pass rusher Bradley Chubb was ready to play Sunday against the New York Jets, just days after making his return to the practice field from an injury suffered nearly a year ago.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel isn’t ruling it out, though.
“It is rare; however, I wouldn’t take an opportunity away from someone that was ready for it especially when they dive so deep to get the opportunity,” McDaniel told reporters Wednesday. “I’m going to let the players play, watch the film of themselves, go back to practice again with pads on, do the same thing again. And then right, wrong or indifferent; if a guy feels 100 percent ready to play that has done what they’ve done in front of their teammates [then they’ll play].
“When they’re ready, which I’m also not trying to – like my expectation is that that takes time. It is the first football practice in a year. So I’m not expecting anything, but you don’t rule it out.”
The translation is that neither Chubb nor Cameron Goode, who was also designated to return from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list earlier this week, are likely to return Sunday. As McDaniel said, the “expectation is that that takes time.”
But both linebackers were limited participants Wednesday and if the progress that they’ve made off the practice field is impressive enough that they excel in the days leading up to Week 14, a quick return isn’t completely out of the question.
The Dolphins are currently second to last in the NFL in sacks with only 21. Defensive linemen Calais Campbell and Zach Sieler are tied for the team lead with four sacks each. Just a hair behind are starting edge rushers Emmanuel Ogbah and first-round rookie Chop Robinson, who have 3.5 each.
