Ogbah, Ingram will need to step up with Chubb out
MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins’ pass rush for their first game in 2024 might look like something the team had going in 2020.
It could be a lot of Emmanuel Ogbah and Andrew Van Ginkel on the edge.
The Dolphins have already had to be without half of their standout starting outside linebacker combination since Jaelan Phillips went down with his torn Achilles in late November.
Now, they’ll be without both him and Bradley Chubb, lost to a torn ACL in his right knee in Sunday’s crushing loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Van Ginkel was already starting for Phillips on the left end. For Chubb, it should be a rotation of edge rushers that includes Ogbah and fellow veteran Melvin Ingram, with a possibility second-year outside linebacker and special teamer Cameron Goode gets in the game, as well.
“It’s going to be by committee, for sure,” Miami defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said as his Dolphins defense is tasked with containing Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in Sunday night’s clash for the AFC East and No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs.
Both Ingram and Ogbah go into their enhanced roles in the regular-season finale with unique scenarios.
Ingram is a 34-year-old threetime Pro Bowl selection with 57 career sacks who is technically on the practice squad, as he has been since signing with the team Dec. 14 after he was a free agent the first three and a half months of the season. He has been elevated from the practice squad for the past two games, and the Dolphins have one more of those call-ups available to use on him Sunday.
“I’m grateful for (the opportunity),” said Ingram, also lamenting that it comes at the expense of Chubb. “I’m just not grateful of the way it came, but it’s the next-man-up mentality. It’s the nature of the business.”
Coach Mike McDaniel said the decision to have Ogbah as a healthy scratch had some to do with not wanting him to press the hamstring injury he previously dealt with, although Ogbah was off the injury report entirely in the week of practice.
Ogbah and Ingram have different things they can provide in Chubb’s spot.