Dolphins decide Bradley Chubb will not play this season. Here’s why

Two-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Bradley Chubb will not play this season.

Facing a Christmas deadline to move Chubb to the 53-man roster, coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday that all parties decided he won’t be activated this season. The 28-year-old hasn’t played since he sustained a serious knee injury in a game on New Year’s Eve.

McDaniel explained that not “trying to take away reps from guys that are playing well” certainly factored into the Dolphins’ decision.

“Bradley takes that serious and has gone after the whole process so he can be Bradley Chubb for this team,” McDaniel said. “He’s been patient through this process. Ultimately, we all decided we didn’t think he would be able to be the player he expects, we all expect. We need a little bit more time that unfortunately the season couldn’t offer us. When he’s on the field, everyone [will know] the player he is. Bradley Chubb wants to play football. Can he play to his standards?”

Despite the serious nature of Chubb’s injury, he did not experience any setbacks, according to McDaniel. The team started his 21-day practice window because the Dolphins and Chubb needed to see if he was able to play this year “after a big-time injury that took an absolute calendar year of strain and work to get in that position.”

“Now you’re not waiting until the offseason to see, what it’s it going to be like,” McDaniel added. “He has a little longer to build to get to his standard of execution. It was a little unknown when he first started [the practice window]. It wasn’t a failure or setback; it was just the nature of the injury.”

The team’s standings also wasn’t a factor despite the Dolphins’ remote chance to make the postseason. As of Tuesday, the Dolphins had roughly a 10-percent shot at the playoffs, according to the New York Times.

“I don’t ever feel comfortable throwing a towel in,” McDaniel said. “We aren’t eliminated. I wouldn’t feel comfortable trying to hedge any sort of bet.”

Chubb participated in nine practices this month, all of which were on a limited basis. He had been on the physically unable to perform list since July and will ultimately remain there.

The 2018 first round pick tore his anterior cruciate ligament, patella tendon and meniscus in his right knee playing late in the fourth quarter of a Dec. 31 Week 17 blowout loss to Baltimore. That marked the third time he had suffered a season-ending knee injury. This tear, however, was more complex; the repair required a five-hour surgical procedure. Chubb described the ordeal as the most difficult challenge of his life.

“Seeing from when I was there to where I am now is nothing short of a blessing,” Chubb said earlier this month, in his only public comments this calendar year. “I’m chopping wood and carrying water every day, continuing to have a positive mind-set.

The Dolphins received Chubb in a November 2022 trade with the Denver Broncos. He appeared in 16 games the following season, accumulating 73 tackles, 11 sacks, six forced fumbles and two recoveries. Chubb has 39.5 sacks in 72 NFL games.

Without Chubb, the Dolphins will move forward with Chop Robinson, Emmanuel Ogbah, Quinton Bell, Cameron Goode and Mo Kamara as their outside linebackers. Tyus Bowser, who is on injured reserve with a knee injury, is eligible to be activated before the Week 18 finale at the Jets.

And while McDaniel denied that Robinson’s ascension over the last month and a half played a role in the decision to shelve Chubb, he expressed high praise for the rookie.

“What’s been memorable about his year is that you talk about the ‘anti-rookie wall,’ he really started impacting the game the more and more he learned,” McDaniel said. “I think that speaks to his daily diligence and his love for football because even some of the best competitors can fizzle out during the month of December just because they’ve played for eight more weeks than they’ve ever played football before.”

Added McDaniel: “No decision was made based upon anything but Bradley. Remember, this is his career and don’t take that lightly. He’s worked very, very hard; we made that decision independent of where we’re at in the season or where we’re at with the roster.”

The Dolphins play at Cleveland on Sunday (4:05 p.m., CBS).