Dolphins’ Bradley Chubb suffers knee injury late in loss to Ravens; Xavien Howard also carted off early

BALTIMORE — The Miami Dolphins were already done in Sunday’s 56-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. And then a bad afternoon turned worse.

Dolphins outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, in pursuit of Ravens running back Melvin Gordon, had his leg buckle, and the standout pass rusher went down grabbing his right knee.

He was carted off the field with 3:05 remaining and the Dolphins trailing by 30, and the fear is that it’s a torn ACL, according to an ESPN report after Sunday’s game.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said, after the game, the team will need to get more information Monday to learn the extent of the knee injury Chubb sustained.

“One of my least favorite things for my sport and in my role is seeing a competitor go down and have to get a cart,” McDaniel said. “That’s always pretty emotional, just in general.”

The further question is why Chubb was still on the field with the score out of reach in garbage time before a pivotal game next weekend for the AFC East crown.

McDaniel said it was his call, ultimately, to keep his players in at that point but starters were eager to fight until the end.

“In hindsight, I would’ve absolutely not wanted him out there had I known he would get hurt,” McDaniel said. “There’s times in football where it’s not about winning and losing and ‘can we come back?’ It’s about finishing the football game, having a taste of what our expectations were going into it.

“The players wanted to go back in and play and finish the right way heading into next week. I have the ability to tell them no on everything.”

Dolphins safety Jevon Holland backed up that notion in the locker room.

“We’re already getting whooped and it’s like, ‘Alright, are the starters in, are the starters not in?” Holland said. “On that series, I ran in and coach asked me if I wanted to come out. I’m like, ‘Nah, it’s a tough game and we’re going to stay out there.” And then that happens.”

“The guys that were out there, it’s because they wanted to be out there,” McDaniel said. “I would like a time machine, for sure, in that situation after the events occurred. But you don’t know that when you go into it, and you do the best you can.”

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa also hurt his shoulder on a slide on a scramble earlier in the fourth quarter, but he said it’s fine and just sore.

Howard carted off

Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard was carted off from the team’s sideline early in Sunday’s loss.

Howard left the game on the team’s opening defensive series with a left foot injury. He was examined in the team’s injury tent on the sideline before being taken inside to the locker room on the cart. Howard’s shoe was off and his left foot was bare, and the CBS broadcast reported he could not put any weight on the foot.

The Dolphins cornerback, first deemed questionable to return, was then ruled out for the afternoon at halftime.

Eli Apple entered the game to replace Howard, first as the boundary cornerback in the nickel package but then later leapfrogging Kader Kohou for boundary duties in the base package.

Howard entered Sunday questionable with hip and thumb injuries but was able to start.

Mostert out

The Dolphins did not have running back Raheem Mostert available in Sunday’s critical game against the Baltimore Ravens for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Mostert was announced as inactive 90 minutes before kickoff at M&T Bank Stadium. McDaniel said his ankle injury did not progress the way it needed to for him to play.

Along with Mostert, right guard Robert Hunt was officially ruled out after traveling with the team and entering Sunday doubtful with a hamstring injury.

Mostert entered Sunday questionable with knee and ankle injuries. He had been nursing the knee for several weeks, but the ankle came into play this past week after he was in and out of the lineup with what was originally thought to be a shin ailment in last Sunday’s 22-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Being without their top tailback Sunday in Baltimore, was another huge blow to an offense that is already missing No. 2 wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, ruled out Friday. Between the two of them, they have accounted for 2,213 total yards from scrimmage in 2023.

Mostert is having a career year at age 31. He has 18 rushing touchdowns and 21 total, both Dolphins franchise single-season records. With 1,012 rushing yards, he has surpassed quadruple digits for the first time in his career.

Mostert missed Wednesday and Thursday practices this past week and was limited Friday. Nonetheless, Miami running backs coach Eric Studesville indicated he expected to have him available. Coach Mike McDaniel called it something Miami would manage throughout the week, but he still seemed optimistic speaking ahead of Friday drills.

Without Mostert, speedy rookie running back De’Von Achane took on a larger role and rushed for 107 yards with a receiving touchdown. Veteran Jeff Wilson Jr. also expanded his snap count to complement Achane with physical running.

Miami also has undrafted rookie Chris Brooks as a third running back that can bring a physical presence to the backfield.

Surprise scratch

Dolphins defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah was a surprise healthy inactive before the Ravens game.

Miami gave its lone practice squad elevation Saturday to outside linebacker Melvin Ingram. He likely takes a major role in rotating with starting edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Andrew Van Ginkel, with special teams player Cameron Goode another option. Ingram had a pair of tackles in 21 defensive snaps against the Cowboys last week.

Ogbah, who has a $17.2 million cap hit this season tweeted before Sunday’s game, “Wow lol,” in possible reaction to being told he was inactive.

The Dolphins also have tight end Tyler Kroft and quarterback Skylar Thompson as healthy scratches, with Thompson available as an emergency third quarterback.

Ravens hurt

For the Ravens, safety Kyle Hamilton was out after battling through a knee injury during this past week.

Hamilton was a key in Baltimore’s convincing victory over the San Francisco 49ers last Monday night, with two of the team’s four interceptions on quarterback Brock Purdy for AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

The Ravens were also without starting right guard Kevin Zeitler (knee/quadriceps) and cornerback Brandon Stephens (ankle), who both entered questionable.

During the game, the Baltimore secondary got further depleted, with Marlon Humphrey hurting his calf.

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(Dolphins columnist Chris Perkins contributed to this report.)

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