The Miami Dolphins are in a scramble to reinforce their pass rush capabilities as they face significant setbacks with injuries to key players and an unexpected retirement. The team’s top edge rushers, Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, have both been sidelined into the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after their seasons were cut short by injuries in late 2023. Adding to the roster strain, former Pro-Bowler Shaq Barrett, who joined the Dolphins during the off-season, has opted for retirement over continuing his professional football career.
Despite drafting Chop Robinson in the first round, the Dolphins are actively seeking additional strength on their defensive line. They are turning to a familiar face in Emmanuel Ogbah, who is set for a workout with the team on Monday, as reported by NFL Media.
Ogbah, an eight-year NFL veteran with stints at the Browns, Chiefs, and Dolphins, is known for his ability to impact the game from the edge. He racked up a total of 42.5 sacks over his career, with his peak performance coming during the 2020 and 2021 seasons where he notched 9 sacks in each while playing for Miami. Although his participation was reduced in the following seasons due to injuries, Ogbah showed resilience by registering 5.5 sacks last season while playing only 25% of the defensive snaps.
While Emmanuel Ogbah alone might not be the sole answer to Miami’s current pass-rush woes, his prior success with the Dolphins and his ability to contribute effectively even in limited roles make him a valuable addition. As Phillips and Chubb recover, Ogbah could play a significant part in the new defensive scheme under coordinator Anthony Weaver, providing much-needed depth and experience to the defensive lineup.