In the wake of an absolutely terrifying injury on Sunday afternoon, the Miami Dolphins have officially placed wide receiver Grant Dubose on injured reserve.
The move all but ends Dubose’s season – with only three weeks left in the season and players having to wait four weeks before returning from IR.
The 6-8 Dolphins are currently ranked ninth in the AFC playoff standings and are unlikely to reach a playoff spot currently held by the 8-6 Los Angeles Chargers.
Dubose suffered a horrific head injury after trying to get a ‘hospital pass’ from Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa against the Houston Texans.
Texans defensive back Caleb Bullock made contact with DuBose at full speed, leading to the barbaric collision.
Medics rushed to help the stricken 23-year-old on the field in Houston, cutting off his jersey before putting him in a neck brace as teammates looked on.
Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose is carted off the field after being hit in the third quarter
The game was stopped for more than 12 minutes while medics worked on DuBose before he was carted off the field and transported to a local hospital.
While kneeling over him, doctors reportedly unscrewed DuBose’s helmet and placed an oxygen mask on the player.
He was hooked up to an ECG machine when he left on a board, with his neck in a brace.
DuBose was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston and was reported to be in stable condition during the game.
The team provided a further update on Monday morning.
“After suffering a head injury during yesterday’s game, Grant DuBose remained overnight at a local hospital in Houston for evaluation. He has movement in all limbs and initial tests have shown positive results. He remains under the care of doctors for continued observation,” a team statement said.
Head coach Mike McDaniel said there was “positive feedback” after DuBose had neck and head imaging done at the hospital, but that staying overnight at a local medical facility and not getting on a plane back to Florida was best for the first-year Dolphin.
Dubose was selected in the seventh round by the Green Bay Packers with one of the last picks of the 2023 draft out of UNC Charlotte.
DuBose took a brutal blow to the helmet and medics cut off his jersey as he lay on the turf
He didn’t log any stats with the Packers and after signing a futures contract with the team in January, he was released in August.
The Dolphins claimed him off waivers the day after he was released. He hasn’t played much with Miami, partly due to a shoulder injury suffered in Week 2.
Dubose has recorded two catches on four targets for 11 yards in three games played this season.
In a corresponding move, the Dolphins signed former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie to the practice squad.
McKenzie spent last season with the Indianapolis Colts and signed a contract with the New York Giants in the offseason before being released in August.