Good News For Dolphins : He Is Back

Jerome Baker injury update: Dolphins linebacker set to return
The Miami Dolphins have opened a practice window for linebacker Jerome Baker.

The Miami Dolphins used their eighth and final activation spot for a player on injured reserve in 2023. According to head coach Mike McDaniel, linebacker Jerome Baker will return to practice on Wednesday to continue working toward his activation and return to game action. Baker might return to the 53-man roster as early as this Sunday’s Week 18 game against the Buffalo Bills, though the team has yet to confirm his availability.

The Dolphins have 21 days to decide on Baker’s status. He can be activated at any moment during that time frame, but if he is not upgraded to the 53-man roster, he will return to the injured reserve list for the rest of the season. Under NFL regulations, teams can designate up to eight players to return off IR throughout the season. With Baker’s designation, Miami has used their entire roster this season, prohibiting the team from bringing back offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn, running back Salvon Ahmed, or wide receiver Erik Ezukanma.

Teams do not receive any additional return allocations during the playoffs. Miami has clinched a playoff spot, but Sunday’s game against the Bills is essentially the AFC East title game. The winner will take the division title and the second seed in the AFC playoffs. If Miami loses, they will be locked in as the sixth seed. Buffalo may be eliminated if they lose.

Baker was placed on injured reserve at the beginning of December after sustaining a knee injury in the team’s Week 13 game against the Washington Commanders. Baker was following wide receiver Curtis Samuel in the second quarter when safety Brandon Jones attempted to strike him and pushed him out of bounds. Jones sprained his medial collateral ligament while playing, colliding with the side of Baker’s legs.

“We have to get him out there and see how he responds,” McDaniel said of Baker’s potential participation this weekend.

To cover Baker’s absence, the Dolphins signed linebacker Calvin Munson. When Baker is activated, the team must make a roster spot available. Munson could be released, but Miami should place linebacker Bradley Chubb, who suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during the team’s Week 17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, on injured reserve this week.

In 12 games this season, Baker has 69 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. When he’s on the field, he calls the defensive signals for the squad. The Dolphins have struggled with communication in recent weeks, and Baker’s return might help the club settle down as they begin their playoff run.