Miami Dolphins' Linebacker A.J. Edds Lost For Season

Chris J. NelsonAug 3, 2010

The Miami Dolphins have suffered their first significant injury of the 2010 season, losing inside linebacker A. J. Edds to a torn ACL.

A fourth-round pick out of Iowa in 2010, Edds will miss the entire 2010 season and should be placed on injured reserve shortly.

Although he was likely to serve primarily a special teams role as a rookie, Edds' agility and coverage skills made him an intriguing option at linebacker in certain pass situations.

As a result of Edds' injury, linebacker Tim Dobbins will learn both the MIKE and MOE inside linebacker positions behind Karlos Dansby and Channing Crowder, stretching his role on defense even further.

Additionally, the loss of Edds opens the door for an extra special teams player to make the Dolphins' final roster.

If another inside linebacker fills that spot, the competition will likely be between 2009 seventh-round pick J. D. Folsom and rookie seventh-rounder Austin Spitler.

However, it also offers a faint glimmer of hope to special teams players elsewhere, like running back Kory Sheets, fullback Rolly Lumbala, and outside linebacker Erik Walden, among others.

The Dolphins have reportedly signed a linebacker to replace Edds on the roster. Although he is wearing No. 57 today in practice, his identity is not yet known.

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Chris J. Nelson majored in journalism at Georgia State University and is currently a programming coordinator for Turner Sports in Atlanta. He operates his own Miami Dolphins Web site, The Miami Dolphins Spotlight, and he can be followed on Twitter here.