Former Chiefs tackle Branden Albert out for year with knee injury
Former Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert, now with the Miami Dolphins, will miss the rest of the season because of a right knee injury, triggering a significant reshuffling in the offensive line.
Albert will go on injured reserve after being hurt in Miami’s loss at Detroit, coach Joe Philbin said Monday.
Albert has been perhaps Miami’s best offensive player this year, stabilizing a line that was awful in 2013. He’s in the first year of a $47 million, five-year contract that includes $26 million guaranteed.
“These type of setbacks are part of the game,” Albert said on Instagram. “I will tell you this, though: I will come back stronger and better. I have the utmost confidence in my teammates to finish what we set out to do at the start of the season.”
After Albert was carted off the field Sunday, rookie Ja’Wuan James moved from right to left tackle. Dallas Thomas moved from left guard to right tackle, and Shelley Smith took over at left guard. The Dolphins (5-4) will likely use the same lineup Thursday against Buffalo (5-4), Philbin said.
“What you saw is probably what you’re going to get,” Philbin said. “Those guys weren’t perfect, but overall I thought they held their own.”
The Dolphins totaled 228 yards and had 50 rushing, both season lows, in the 20-16 defeat. Now they must brace for a Bills defensive front that dominated when the teams met in week two and Miami lost 29-10.
James was a four-year starter at Tennessee before the Dolphins took him with the 19th overall pick in the May draft. He won a starting job in training camp and is part of a unit revamped after Miami endured a franchise-record 58 sacks and a bullying scandal involving the offensive line last year.
James now faces a learning curve at left tackle after playing only the right side in college.
“He’s a good athlete and a smart guy,” Philbin said. “You have to be able to make a switch like that in the middle of a game.”
This story was originally published November 10, 2014 at 1:35 PM with the headline "Former Chiefs tackle Branden Albert out for year with knee injury."