Dolphins Rumors: Justin Houston Signs Contract Before Chiefs Game After Chubb Injury

Mike Chiari@@mikechiariFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 9, 2024

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The Miami Dolphins signed veteran pass-rusher Justin Houston to a contract Tuesday, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

In recent weeks, the Dolphins lost their top two pass-rushers to season-ending injuries, as Jaelan Phillips tore his Achilles and Bradley Chubb tore his ACL:

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefterDolphins’ standout OLB Bradley Chubb did in fact tear his ACL, per source. Chubb was hurt with three minutes left in Sunday’s game, when Miami trailed by 30.

Miami now will be without Chubb and Jaelen Phillips, who tore his Achilles vs the Jets the day after Thanksgiving. pic.twitter.com/IEBkPx8bAE

With Miami short on experienced and productive pass-rushers as a result, the organization is bringing in Houston ahead of Saturday night’s AFC Wild Card Round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Dolphins also signed veteran pass-rusher Bruce Irvin top their active roster and linebacker Malik Reed to their practice squad.

The 34-year-old Houston is a 13-year NFL veteran who appeared in seven games for the Carolina Panthers this season before getting released last month.

Houston was originally a third-round draft pick out of Georgia in 2011, and he spent his first eight NFL seasons in Kansas City.

From 2012 through 2015, Houston earned four consecutive Pro Bowl nods, and he was also named a first-team All-Pro in 2014 when he led the league with a career-high 22 sacks.

Houston had nine or more sacks in five of seven seasons from 2012 to 2018 before going on to play for the Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens and Panthers.

He had 11 sacks in his first season with the Colts in 2019 and proved last season that he can still play at a high level, recording 9.5 sacks with Baltimore.

Prior to his release from the Panthers, Houston had nine tackles, a half-sack and one forced fumble in seven contests.

For his career, Houston has 112 sacks, which ranks third among active players behind only Von Miller of the Buffalo Bills and Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints.

If the Dolphins can get Houston up to speed quickly enough to play in Saturday’s road playoff game, he will join a group of edge rushers that includes two more former Chiefs in Melvin Ingram and Emmanuel Ogbah.

Miami also had Andrew Van Ginkel, who had six sacks on the year, but he suffered a season-ending foot injury during the Dolphins’ Week 18 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

That prompted the Dolphins to make more moves beyond signing Houston with the most notable one being the addition of Irvin.

The 36-year-old Irvin has played for six different teams during his 12-year career. Most notably, he spent six years with the Seattle Seahawks, recording 25.5 sacks and winning a Super Bowl.

Irvin, who had one sack in two games for the Detroit Lions this season, has registered 56.5 sacks in 140 career regular-season games.

Reed appeared in four games for the Las Vegas Raiders this season and is best known for delivering a career-high eight sacks for the Denver Broncos in 2020.

Since Houston, Irvin, Ingram and Ogbah have all played pretty sparingly this season, Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will likely have to rely quite heavily on defensive linemen Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler getting pressure up the middle on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.