Season could be over for injured Godchaux
Godchaux suffers injury that could end his year
The Miami Dolphins will likely be without a key starter and valuable member of their defensive line, possibly for the rest of the 2020NFLseason.
Dolphins defensive tackle Davon Godchaux suffered a biceps injury that could end his season, according to a Tuesday report from the NFL Network.
Godchaux, who the team will place on injured reserve, hopes the injury can heal and allow him to return later in the year, but that process could take at least three months.
Still, the injury is a major blow to Godchaux, a former fifth-round pick by the Dolphins in 2017, who is in the final year of his four-year rookie contract that will pay him a base salary of $2.1 million this season.
“Working with him is a treat. I think every coach wants to work with someone who really loves to play football,” Dolphins defensive line coach Marion Hobby said of Godchaux on Tuesday.
“He’s very conscientious about practice. He’s very conscientious about his play. And he’s a great leader. His leadership in the room is second-to-none. We can always
count on him as a leader. … He’s really progressed, and I’ve really enjoyed coaching him.”
Godchaux, who had missed only one game in his four-year Dolphins career, started all five games for Miami this season, producing 16 tackles, two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss.
Godchaux was coming off his best season last year, where he had 75 tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits while starting all 16 games.
“Davon, his leadership, his work ethic, all that stuff has been great,” defensive coordinator Josh Boyer said. “He’s been a mentor to the younger guys and on top of that, he’s been able to give us some production on the field. Nothing but good things to say about him. He is continuing to strive to be the best player that he can be.
“As a coach, you hope all your guys are available to you,” Boyer added on Godchaux’s availability. “Whatever the scenario is, we just deal with it from there.”
Now, the Dolphins will turn to backup Zach Sieler to take on a greater role on defense with him likely starting alongside secondyear first-round pick Christian Wilkins going forward. Rookie second-round pick Raekwon Davis should also see an increased role in the defensive tackle rotation on Miami’s defense.
Sieler, the undrafted rookie out of Ferris State, is coming off one of his best games against the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday, as he produced a sack and two quarterback hits in his first career start during Miami’s 43-17 blowout win.
Wilkins, Miami’s firstround pick in 2019, had a fumble recovery against the 49ers, and has accounted for
15 tackles, a tackle for loss and two pass deflections in five games this season. Wilkins has started in 18 of the 21 games he has played for Miami.
Davis, Miami’s secondround pick in the 2020NFL draft, started in the season opener, but has seen his role
reduce thanks to Sieler’s play. Davis has five tackles while playing in less than30 percent of the snaps in five games this season.
“I think like all young guys, there are some ups and downs. I think you have to learn what the NFL is about, learn about being a professional, and I think Raekwon is doing those things,” Boyer said of Davis. “I think Raekwon comes in, he loves football and he puts in a good day’s work. We hope that can improve week by week, which we’re all striving to do.”