Could the Dolphins add Ndamukong Suh in light of Bradley Chubb’s injury?
Bradley Chubb, a pass rusher for the Miami Dolphins, suffered an ACL tear last week. Could Ndamukong Suh, a defensive tackle, take his spot on the roster?
Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb crumpled to the ground in the latter minutes of the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17. His knee gave way beneath him. Chubb tore his ACL in the middle of a Pro Bowl-caliber season in which he was leading the team with 11 sacks; he will miss the rest of the current campaign and probably most of the following one. Miami needs to cover a large defensive void as they get ready for a postseason run.
Chubb becomes the second Dolphins starting edge rusher to miss the entire season due to serious injuries, after Jaelan Phillips suffered an Achilles tendon tear on Black Friday. How do the Dolphins cover such a gap? Is it through the return of a former defensive tackle?
Two weeks ago, the Dolphins hosted 13-year veteran and five-time Pro Bowl selection (as well as three-time First-Team All-Pro) Ndamukong Suh. The Dolphins have a roster spot available, and he has expressed his desire to play on. Suh could fill in as a defensive lineman, blocking the middle and assisting the Dolphins in stopping the run. Reuniting with the Dolphins, where he spent three seasons, including one Pro Bowl season, could be beneficial if he does have some left in him as the postseason gets underway.
Of course, the Dolphins have lost an edge rusher, and Suh is not a one-for-one replacement. Miami, whenever they officially move Chubb to injured reserve, may be inclined to look for a true edge rusher to provide depth to the roster. They could also use Chubb’s roster spot to activate inside linebacker Jerome Baker off injured reserve.
Moving forward, the Dolphins’ pass rush is going to be led by Andrew Van Ginkel and Emmanuel Ogbah. Melvin Ingram has one more game to be activated from the practice squad, with just one game remaining on Miami’s regular season schedule. Can the Dolphins make it through with just three primary pass rushers, asking Van Ginkel, Ogbah, and Ingram to make up for the losses of Phillips and Chubb?
If the Dolphins think those three are going to be able to get the job done, Suh may be a possibility to add to the roster.
Suh is a mercenary, looking to play for a contending team who will pay him. Miami, according to the NFL Players Association, only have $1.2 million in salary cap space this year. That is little room, but Suh signed with the Eagles during the season last year on a $750,000 contract – with bonuses in the deal.
Is Suh fit for football? This late in the season, is it still worthwhile to try to fit him into the defense? Should the Dolphins continue their search for an edge rusher? Does Baker have to be on the team this week? Though there are still a lot of unanswered questions, Suh appears to be a viable option for the Dolphins to consider replacing Chubb on the roster.
