The Dolphins placed edge rushers Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) and Bradley Chubb (knee), who each sustained season-ending injuries in December, on the active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list Thursday.
Each player can be removed from that list at any time during training camp. However, as of now, neither will be actively participating when the Dolphins open training camp next week. Veterans report Tuesday.
Putting Phillips and Chubb on the PUP list is a smart move on the Dolphins’ part for at least two reasons: it reduces the risk of either doing too much too early in training camp and suffering a setback, and the Dolphins get those roster spots during training camp to take a look at two other players.
Additionally, Miami put running back Salvon Ahmed (foot) on the active/Non Football Injury (NFI) list on Thursday, and placed edge rusher/outside linebacker Cameron Goode (knee) and guard Isaiah Wynn, who missed much of last season with a quadriceps injury, on the PUP list.
That trio can also be removed from those respective lists at any time during training camp.
The moves with Chubb and Phillips were expected.
The only way they wouldn’t have been put on PUP was if either was making remarkable progress in their rehabilitation.
As it is, it seems both are progressing at a fairly regular speed and there doesn’t seem to be any fear that either player is progressing too slowly.
Having said that, there’s still no return date for either.
A rehabilitation period of about eight to 10 months is considered fairly normal for both Chubb’s and Phillips’ injuries.
The Dolphins have a pretty good choice of replacement edge rushers while Chubb and Phillips rehab.
Veterans Calais Campbell and Shaq Barrett were added in free agency and Chop Robinson, the first-round pick from Penn State, and Mo Kamara, the fifth-round pick from Colorado State, were added in the draft.
Goode will also be in the edge rusher mix when he recovers.
At running back, Ahmed was behind starter Raheem Mostert, second-year player De’Von Achane and veteran Jeff Wilson Jr. Miami also drafted Jaylen Wright from Tennessee in the fourth round.
As for Wynn, he opened last season as the starting left guard but was quickly sidelined. If he can get healthy and stay healthy, he has a chance to compete for a starting guard job again this year.
Right now it appears the competition for starting left and right guards is primarily among Liam Eichenberg, Aaron Brewer (if he doesn’t start at center), Robert Jones, Lester Cotton and Jack Driscoll.
On Tuesday, the Dolphins placed rookie wide receiver Tahj Washington, the seventh-round pick from USC, on the PUP list and placed safety Mark Perry, an undrafted rookie from TCU, on the NFI list.
