Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker will not be placed on injured reserve despite spraining the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his knee during a game on Sunday. The injury is considered week-to-week, and Baker is expected to avoid surgery. Coach Mike McDaniel stated on Tuesday that this decision indicates the possibility of Baker returning to play before the conclusion of the regular season.
Baker sustained the knee injury while pursuing receiver Curtis Samuel on a 33-yard play to the goal line in the second quarter, colliding with safety Brandon Jones in the process. Despite the setback, Baker expressed optimism on social media after the game, reassuring fans that he plans to return sooner than anticipated.
In Baker’s absence, Duke Riley stepped in on Sunday and received praise from Coach McDaniel for his performance. Riley not only filled Baker’s position but also took on the responsibility of making defensive play calls, ultimately recording seven tackles during the game.
On a separate note, offensive guard Robert Hunt aggravated his hamstring injury and is also considered week-to-week. Unfortunately, Hunt is expected to miss some playing time due to this setback.
