The Miami Dolphins were forced to finish Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders without Jerome Baker, and it is possible that Miami might be forced to finish the regular season without the starting inside linebacker.
When Baker was trailing receiver Curtis Samuel, who was coming out of the backfield, safety Brandon Jones went low to hit Samuel out of bounds and collided with Baker. This happened on Washington’s opening drive of the second quarter. After suffering a left knee injury, Baker was helped off the pitch and decided not to play again. Baker was replaced by Duke Riley as David Long Jr.’s inside linebacker partner.
DUKE RILEY EXPECTED TO FILL STARTING ROLE
In the 11 games he had played this season, Baker—who had started 82 of the 92 games he had played for the Dolphins since being selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft—had tallied 65 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
In his six-year NFL career, Baker has averaged 100 tackles per season; if the injury he sustained is season-ending, it will be the first major injury he has experienced. Prior to this season, Baker was an Ohio State standout. Riley hasn’t been a consistent starter in the NFL since his 2020 season with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he started eight of 13 games and contributed 55 tackles and one interception. Baker’s absence could put further strain on one of the team’s weakest units. Riley, who had made seven defensive tackles going into Sunday’s game, has started five games in his three seasons with the Dolphins.
COULD CHANNING TINDALL CONTRIBUTE?
Adding to the difficulty is the fact that Jaelan Phillips, who suffered an Achilles injury last week that ended his season, needs to be replaced on the outside by Andrew Van Ginkel, an inside linebacker.
With Channing Tindall as the only other backup inside linebacker on the 53-man roster, Tindall is a disappointing third-round pick in 2022. The former Georgia standout Tindall has played in 27 games over the last two seasons and has produced five tackles, but his primary role has been on special teams. Prior to Sunday’s game against Washington, Tindall had already played nine defensive snaps in 2023. He also played nine snaps in the previous season.
On the practise squad of the Dolphins are also Quinton Bell, a former Prairie View A&M standout, and Alexander Johnson, a former University of Tennessee standout who has spent six seasons in the NFL. But in his two months with Miami, Bell has primarily played outside linebacker. Due to his projected base salary and bonuses of $11.1 million for the upcoming season, Baker’s injury is expected to have an impact on the Dolphins’ offseason plans. However, if Baker were to be released, the team would have $9.9 million in cap space, which would allow them to restructure contracts and cut veterans in order to stay under the cap.
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