Dolphins To Bring Back DE Melvin Ingram

Unable to secure as several veteran edge rushers came off the free agency board this summer, Melvin Ingram paid a visit to one of his former teams. This will lead to the Dolphins bolstering their edge-rushing contingent.

The Dolphins brought in the former Pro Bowler for a Tuesday workout, ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets. This will lead to a quick agreement, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, who reports the Dolphins and Ingram have a deal in place.

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Miami has been without top sack artist Jaelan Phillips for the past two games; Phillips suffered an Achilles tear in Week 12. Ingram operated as a rotational edge rusher for the Dolphins last season. The team used Ingram as a three-game starter in 2022, doing so after signing him to a one-year deal worth $4MM. Ingram, who recorded six sacks (his most since 2019) last season, discussed a contract with the Browns this offseason. But Cleveland completed a trade with Minnesota for Za’Darius Smith.

As players like Leonard Floyd, Frank Clark, Yannick Ngakoue and Jadeveon Clowney signed between May and August, Ingram has been in free agency since his Dolphins contract expired. But the 11-year veteran will make a late-season return to an NFL roster.

Now 34, Ingram is a three-time Pro Bowler who spent his best years with the Chargers. After a 2021 separation from the Bolts, Ingram has bounced around the AFC. The former first-round pick caught on with the Steelers as a third rusher, but he ended up dissatisfied with the role. Pittsburgh traded Ingram to Kansas City before the 2021 deadline, and the veteran’s arrival helped the Chiefs abandon an ill-fated effort to slide Chris Jones to defensive end. Ingram started six games for the Chiefs, forcing a key fumble that helped the Chiefs to a Week 18 win.

Ingram will rejoin Bradley Chubb, Emmanuel Ogbah and Andrew Van Ginkel in Miami. Christian Wilkins is also having a strong contract year, leading the team with 7.5 sacks. Post-Phillips, however, the Dolphins obviously feature a less potent pass rush. They will bring in Ingram to help compensate for the key loss.

Making the Pro Bowl from 2017-19, Ingram excelled both before and after Joey Bosa‘s Southern California arrival. He posted 10.5-sack seasons in 2015 and ’17, signing a big-ticket extension in between. Last season, Ingram recovered two fumbles — returning one for a score — and forced one. This will not be as smooth a transition as it would appear, as the Dolphins hired a new defensive coordinator — Vic Fangio — this offseason. Ingram has managed to fit into a few defenses in his career, so it would surprise if he is not on the field for the AFC East leaders soon.