Melvin

Ingram III

Struggling with a raft of defensive injuries, the Dolphins could be forced to use the veteran in a prominent role this weekend against the Chiefs. Ingram, 34, has five tackles on the season.

Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio mentioned that, with Emmanuel Ogbah questionable to play this weekend, the Dolphins could elevate Ingram from the practice squad. The 34-year-old Ingram was with the Dolphins last season, notching six sacks, but was not with the team at the start of the 2023 season. After the Dolphins lost Jaelen Phillips for the season, they re-signed Ingram to their practice squad just two weeks ago.

The Dolphins brought in Ingram for a visit before the draft, while the Chiefs applied the UFA tag to Ingram after it. No matter, the Dolphins took the leap on Ingram, who figures to rotate with Emmanuel Ogbah and Jaelan Phillips as well as play on passing downs. New DC Josh Boyer definitely has a lot of talent to work with as he tries to step out of the shadow of Brian Flores.

Ingram’s free agency stalled out after he took a visit to Miami, and the Chiefs applied the UFA tender to him yesterday, meaning he’ll still count against compensatory pick formulas. It seems likely that Kansas City will bring Ingram back at this point, but it’s possible that Ingram is simply waiting the market out ala Tyrann Mathieu.

The rarely used tender means that if Ingram does not sign before training camp, the Chiefs will have exclusive negotiating rights with him. If Ingram signs with another team prior to training camp, he will count toward the compensatory pick formula. Ingram is entering his age-33 season and split last year with the Steelers and Chiefs after nine seasons with the Chargers.

Ingram helped save Kansas City’s defense down the stretch last year, posting 20 pressures and a sack per Sports Info Solutions charting in six games. He also added two sacks and three quarterback hits in the playoffs. Miami retained Emmanuel Ogbah in free agency, and the combination of Ogbah, second-year EDGE Jaelan Phillips, and Ingram would be quite formidable.

Ingram, 32, has seen a reduction in playing time as the 2021 season has worn on, struggling with a groin injury through parts of the year. He was clearly unhappy in Pittsburgh and will join a Chiefs defense that has pressured the passer at a 23 percent clip this season, the 12th lowest in the NFL. Ingram will likely join Frank Clark as Kansas City’s primary EDGE rushers for the rest of the year. Ingram has 11 quarterback hurries and one sack through eight weeks.

Ingram’s snaps have progressively dipped for his poor play throughout the year, most recently resulting in a season-low 26% of defensive snaps against the Seahawks and ensuing frustration from the 32-year-old linebacker. Kansas City made an offer but the Steelers reportedly want to keep Ingram out of the conference. With J.J. Watt undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, a fit with the Cardinals makes all too much sense.

Pittsburgh had been in the market for another pass rusher after losing stud LB Bud Dupree and eventually came to terms with 32-year-old Ingram on a veteran’s deal. Unfortunately he’s finished the year on injured reserve in two consecutive seasons and most recently was unable to record a single sack during his seven games in 2020. The Steelers are obviously hoping he can regenerate any amount of talent he had while picking up seven sacks during the 2019 season.

CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora added that the Steelers had interest in Justin Houston but the two sides could not strike a deal. He also noted that Ingram could be the first of multiple visits for Pittsburgh this week. The Steelers lost Bud Dupree in free agency and have yet to make a move to replace him. Ingram has finished the year on injured reserve in two consecutive seasons but still garnered interest from a handful of teams this offseason. He was unable to record a single sack during his seven games in 2020 but picked up seven sacks in his 2019 campaign.