ESPN recently reported that the Miami Dolphins have officially played star pass rusher Bradley Chubb, as well as Isaiah Wynn and Cameron Goode, on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. At a minimum, this trio will now be required to miss the four games of the NFL season. This comes in the wake of his ACL tear last December.
What the Latest PUP News Means for This Miami Dolphins Star
What does this mean for the Dolphins? It leaves the franchise, which ranked third in the NFL last season with 56 QB sacks, without their premiere pass rusher. Unfortunately for the club, Christian Wilkins, who was second on the team with 9.0 sacks in 2023, transitioned to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason.
Newcomer Calais Campbell will attempt to provide stability until Chubb can return to action. However, it remains to be seen whether the 37-year-old veteran can make a major impact. This leaves the incumbent unit of Zach Sieler (10 sacks in 2023) and Jaelan Phillips (6.5) as the only other established pass rushers on the current roster.
Chubb’s importance to the team cannot be overstated. He is a two-time Pro-Bowler. He led the Dolphins with 11 sacks last season (despite playing only 16 games). And, despite his injury, he recently ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 15th-best edge defender entering the 2024 season.
The Others
Goode is a second-year linebacker who played minimally in his rookie campaign. At the most, his injury represents a loss of depth and robs the former California star of valuable time to develop.
On the other side of the ball, the loss of left guard Isaiah Wynn will hurt Miami’s ability to keep star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa upright. Wynn was a starter for Miami in the first seven games of 2023 before a quad injury in Week 7 ended his season. He has not practiced since.
Miami is optimistic that Chubb will be able to return shortly after his four-game absence. With the Dolphins high-powered offense, fans can be sure that the team will find itself in its fair share of shootouts. Having stability along the defensive front will be key to limiting opposing offenses and providing the franchise with chances to win games. Here’s hoping he returns soon!
Main Photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
