Tag: Cameron Goode

Dolphins activate Cameron Goode, leave Bradley Chubb on PUP list

The Dolphins released a veteran DT to make room for Cameron Goode to make his return.

The Miami Dolphins activated Cameron Goode from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list Saturday, making the linebacker available to make his 2024 debut Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

Not joining him is pass rusher Bradley Chubb, who has also spent the year on the PUP list and returned to practice along with Goode earlier this month. Chubb could be activated in the next few days, but the Dolphins have a chance at being eliminated from playoff contention this weekend.

Goode, 26, was a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft and spent his entire rookie season on the Dolphins’ practice squad. Last year, he played in all 17 games, but mostly appeared on special teams and finished the season with six tackles and two quarterback hits.

The Dolphins have seen strong play from rookie first-round pick Chop Robinson, but depth at outside linebacker is lacking with Emmanuel Ogbah, Quinton Bell, and fifth-round rookie Mohamed Kamara rounding out the depth chart.

Miami released defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr. to make room on the roster for Goode.

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Dolphins not ruling out Pro Bowl pass rusher returning in Week 14

A few days of practice typically isn’t enough to be ready to return to action, but Mike McDaniel isn’t ruling it out either.

The Miami Dolphins haven’t been quick to activate players after they return to practice from injury. So it’d be a surprise if pass rusher Bradley Chubb was ready to play Sunday against the New York Jets, just days after making his return to the practice field from an injury suffered nearly a year ago.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel isn’t ruling it out, though.

“It is rare; however, I wouldn’t take an opportunity away from someone that was ready for it especially when they dive so deep to get the opportunity,” McDaniel told reporters Wednesday. “I’m going to let the players play, watch the film of themselves, go back to practice again with pads on, do the same thing again. And then right, wrong or indifferent; if a guy feels 100 percent ready to play that has done what they’ve done in front of their teammates [then they’ll play].

“When they’re ready, which I’m also not trying to – like my expectation is that that takes time. It is the first football practice in a year. So I’m not expecting anything, but you don’t rule it out.”

The translation is that neither Chubb nor Cameron Goode, who was also designated to return from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list earlier this week, are likely to return Sunday. As McDaniel said, the “expectation is that that takes time.”

But both linebackers were limited participants Wednesday and if the progress that they’ve made off the practice field is impressive enough that they excel in the days leading up to Week 14, a quick return isn’t completely out of the question.

The Dolphins are currently second to last in the NFL in sacks with only 21. Defensive linemen Calais Campbell and Zach Sieler are tied for the team lead with four sacks each. Just a hair behind are starting edge rushers Emmanuel Ogbah and first-round rookie Chop Robinson, who have 3.5 each.

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Dolphins open practice window for Pro Bowl OLB to return from PUP list

The Dolphins are working one of their 2024 draft picks back into the mix.

The Miami Dolphins’ two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb will be back on the practice field Wednesday as he works toward making his season debut, head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Monday.

Along with Chubb, the Dolphins will also open the 21-day practice window for outside linebacker Cameron Goode, who has also spent the first three months of the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

Chubb, 28, suffered an ACL tear in Week 17 of the 2023 season. Goode ruptured his patellar tendon a week later in the Dolphins’ regular season finale.

While Jaelan Phillips also suffered a season-ending injury in 2023, he managed to return for Week 1 of the 2024 season. However, it was short-lived and he landed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in Week 4 that required surgery.

Instead, the Dolphins have relied on veteran Emmanuel Ogbah and first-round rookie Chop Robinson to generate the majority of the pass rush off the edge. While the latter had a strong November, Miami ranks 31st in the NFL sacks with only 21 through 12 games.

Chubb recorded 11 sacks last season and led the NFL in forced fumbles with six. Both of his Pro Bowl nods came earlier in his career while with the Denver Broncos.

Goode, a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, played all 17 games last season but the majority of his snaps came on special teams.

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Grading the Dolphins linebackers after their 2023 season

A look at Miami’s linebackers, and the year they had in 2023.

The Miami Dolphins finished their 2023 campaign with an 11-6 record and made the postseason for the second time in as many years under head coach Mike McDaniel. Unfortunately, it came to an end with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round.

While other teams are in the midst of their playoff run, it’s time to do some reflecting on the team in South Florida.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be reviewing and evaluating different positions for the Dolphins in 2023. Today, we’ll look at the linebackers.

Dolphins officially place trio of LBs on IR

Dolphins officially make five roster moves, all at LB.

The Miami Dolphins, after their loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, officially made five roster moves on Tuesday related to injuries at linebacker.

The team announced that linebackers Jerome Baker (wrist), Andrew Van Ginkel (foot) and Cameron Goode (patellar tendon) have been placed on season-ending injured reserve. Baker and Goode are both under contract for next season, but Van Ginkel is set to hit free agency.

To fill the open roster spots, Miami officially signed Justin Houston and Bruce Irvin.

It’s also been reported that they’re signing Malik Reed to their practice squad.

That would leave the team with one open spot on the 53-man roster. This could mean that the Dolphins will sign Melvin Ingram from their own practice squad and sign Reed to their practice squad before Saturday’s game. Or, maybe there’s another corresponding move coming completely.

Dolphins signing veteran LB Justin Houston

Miami adds veteran help on the edge.

The Miami Dolphins have had some real issues on the edge, as they’ve lost Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, Andrew Van Ginkel and Cameron Goode for the season to injury.

That has left the team with just Emmanuel Ogbah, Quinton Bell and Melvin Ingram between the active roster and practice squad, so it makes sense that they’d be looking for help.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Dolphins are signing veteran linebacker Justin Houston for their playoff run.

Houston, 34, has been in the league for 13 seasons, spending his first eight years with the Kansas City Chiefs. With Kansas City, he earned one All-Pro nomination and Pro Bowl honors four times. Since 2019, he’s spent two years with the Indianapolis Colts, two years with the Baltimore Ravens and part of this season with the Carolina Panthers.

In seven games in 2023, he’s recorded nine tackles (two for a loss), a pass defensed and a half-sack, but in his career, he’s amassed the third-most sacks of any active player (behind only Von Miller and Cameron Jordan).

Houston may not be the edge rusher that he once was, but he could certainly help a group that’s in desperate need of assistance.

Dolphins LBs Jerome Baker, Cameron Goode, Andrew Van Ginkel out for the season

Dolphins get more bad injury news.

The Miami Dolphins have struggled to stay healthy at the linebacker position for the entire second half of the season.

Before this week, Jaelan Phillips suffered a torn Achilles against the New York Jets, Alexander Johnson suffered a torn Achilles at practice and Bradley Chubb tore his ACL against the Baltimore Ravens.

Then, in the Week 18 battle against the Buffalo Bills, Miami lost Jerome Baker, Andrew Van Ginkel and Cameron Goode.

On Monday, head coach Mike McDaniel revealed that Baker has had wrist surgery already and is done for the year. Goode’s injury, which took place on the punt-return touchdown, is a season-ending patellar tendon tear. Van Ginkel will also miss the restnof the year.

That means, that, on the edge, the Dolphins only have Emmanuel Ogbah as a healthy rusher on the active roster. They do have Melvin Ingram and Quinton Bell, who they can bring up from the practice squad, but they’re extremely thin.

Then, on the interior, Miami has David Long Jr., Duke Riley, Calvin Munson and Channing Tindall. Munson and Tindall have played 12 defensive snaps for the Dolphins each this season.

This is not an ideal situation going against the defending Super Bowl champs on Saturday. They’ll need to do some quick scouting to find bodies to fill out their roster and practice squad, and they should look for someone with experience, especially in Vic Fangio’s system. Even then, it’s tough to find real help at this point in the year. Miami may just be stuck with what they have.

Chris Tabor on Johnny Hekker’s head butt: He is so passionate

Panthers ST coordinator Chris Tabor spoke about the many talents of P Johnny Hekker on Thursday.

Carolina Panthers punter Johnny Hekker may be a triple threat. He can kick, he can throw and he can head-butt.

Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor took some questions this afternoon, just a few days ahead of the team’s Week 8 matchup with the Houston Texans. He was asked about the dual-dimensional talent of Hekker, who nearly tossed for a first down on a fake punt in the Week 6 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

“You always gotta be aware of the skill set he has, and throwin’,” he said. “And just flippin’ it from myself playing against Hekker when he was with the Rams, it just makes you work on some other things because he is such a good thrower. I mean, in theory, he can really be like a third-string quarterback. You do see some different things, maybe at midfield or at certain down and distances. I think it’s just all part of it.

“But I wish we would’ve converted on that fake down in Miami. But I’m glad we gave it a shot there, and keep it goin’.'”

That shot saw Hekker, who carries a career passer rating of 84.2, connect with wideout Laviska Shenault Jr. for a 7-yard gain. Unfortunately, the Panthers were trying to convert on a fourth-and-8, so no dice.

Hekker would also grab some attention with his “head butt” of Dolphins linebacker Cameron Goode. Tabor was then asked if he’d ever had a punter complete a pass and a head butt in a single game.

“I haven’t,” he said. “That’s a first. That’s a first one. I will say this—the thing I love about him, he is so passionate and he’s such a competitor. I would never ever wanna change any of that with him.”

The contact to Goode resulted in an unnecessary roughness penalty on Hekker, one Tabor refused to touch.

“I’ll never go there, on any of the calls,” he replied with a laugh when asked about his thoughts on the flag. “Good try, but that won’t be answered.”

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Johnny Hekker not fined for Week 6 head butt of Dolphins LB Cameron Goode

Panthers P Johnny Hekker will not be fined for last week’s “head butt” of Dolphins LB Cameron Goode.

Johnny Hekker’s now-infamous “head butt” won’t result in a slap on the wrist.

As reported by Joe Person of The Athletic on Saturday afternoon, the NFL will not fine the Carolina Panthers punter for making contact with Miami Dolphins linebacker Cameron Goode last Sunday. The head butt in question came during the team’s Week 6 loss:

This is, obviously, great news for Hekker—who refused to even classify the bump as a head butt.

“It was not a head-butt,” he said with a laugh after the game. “There was no malintent. It was a moment where I was just walkin’ up and havin’ further conversation with the guy after the play. Got close, maybe got baited a little bit. And he flopped back and fell backwards and took the ref out in the process. The ref took offense to that, threw the flag.

“Put myself in a bad situation. Really, I gotta own that. It was nothing worth pursuing. The play was dead and over. There was no reason to go back after guys. It’s frustration in the moment and you gotta do like when you’re taught like a kid—just walk away. You just gotta walk away.”

Well, now he’ll be walking away without an expensive tab.

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Johnny Hekker refutes head butt of Cameron Goode: He sold it well

Panthers P Johnny Hekker went viral on Sunday for a “head butt” of Dolphins LB Cameron Goode. But he denies any ill intent.

And the Oscar goes to . . . Cameron Goode, linebacker, Miami Dolphins!

Sunday’s 42-21 loss for the Carolina Panthers featured many must-see moments—from Bryce Young’s fast and furious start to Tyreek Hill going out of his flippin’ mind. But punter Johnny Hekker’s head butt of Goode may have been the best highlight for many . . .

Here’s what Hekker said about it after the game:

“It was not a head butt,” he said with a laugh in the locker room. “There was no malintent. It was a moment where I was just walkin’ up and havin’ further conversation with the guy after the play. Got close, maybe got baited a little bit. And he flopped back and fell backwards and took the ref out in the process. The ref took offense to that, threw the flag.

“Put myself in a bad situation. Really, I gotta own that. It was nothing worth pursuing. The play was dead and over. There was no reason to go back after guys. It’s frustration in the moment and you gotta do like when you’re taught like a kid—just walk away. You just gotta walk away.”

Hekker was then asked if he and Goode touched helmets.

“Our face masks barely touched,” he replied. “The guy, I’m not sure if he practices that or how he sold it so well. But, legitimately, there was . . . I barely even noticed our helmets touched. I wish nothing ill against him. It is what it is. I put myself in that situation. I engaged with him in that way. Just embarrassed that I put the team in that kind of situation.”

Week 6 was a pretty eventful outing for Hekker. Along with the “not head-butt” that resulted in an unnecessary roughness penalty, the four-time All-Pro boot even got to show off his throwing arm on a fake punt in the first half—albeit an unsuccessful one.

So, unfortunately, the 12th-year veteran was the one ultimately getting faked out on the afternoon.

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