With arguably their two best pass rushers out for the season, the Miami Dolphins made a move Tuesday to add an experienced former Pro Bowl linebacker to fill their need in time for their wild-card game Saturday.
The Miami Dolphins (11-6) signed free agent Justin Houston, a four-time Pro Bowl performer who has 112 career sacks and played for the Carolina Panthers earlier this season.
Houston spent his first eight seasons in Kansas City, where he was invited to four Pro Bowls from 2012-15. He registered a career-high 22 sacks in 2014, only a half-sack short of tying Michael Strahan’s all-time sacks record. He’s had four seasons in which he finished with double-digit sacks.
For his career, Houston, an All-Pro in 2014, also has four safeties (tied for the NFL record), 19 forced fumbles, five interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.
After recording 9.5 sacks for Baltimore last season, Houston signed in the offseason with Carolina and played seven games before being placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. The Panthers then released Houston by his request on Dec. 19.
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Miami Dolphins already lost Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips
On Saturday, Houston will return to Kansas City, where the Dolphins will take on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Injuries have decimated the Miami Dolphins’ defense, who lost Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips for the season. Chubb, their team leader in sacks with 11, suffered a knee injury in their Week 17 loss to Baltimore, while Phillips (6.5 sacks) went down with an Achilles injury.
On top of Chubb and Phillips, the Miami Dolphins will also be without linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel (foot), Jerome Baker (wrist), and Cam Goode (knee). The latter two are likely out for the season, making the Houston signing even more necessary.
Houston will be chasing his former Kansas City teammate, Mahomes, as the Miami Dolphins try to mount a pass rush against the two-time NFL MVP. On Sunday, the Dolphins sacked Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen three times, but they still lost 21-14, allowing the Bills to win their fourth straight AFC East title.