Former Wisconsin Star Leaves Pivotal Dolphins-Bills Game with Injury

The Miami Dolphins suffered another blow to their pass rush with this injury to a former Wisconsin Badgers defender.

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current Miami Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel suffered a foot injury in Sunday’s season finale against the Buffalo Bills and will not play in the first round of the NFL playoffs. 

Van Ginkel suffered the foot injury in the third quarter of the game as he was tackling Buffalo running back James Cook. He left the field under his own power and then headed to the locker room with team trainers. He was ruled out for the rest of the game.

While the Dolphins released no information publicly after Sunday's game, Van Ginkel’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told Miami-based sportscaster Josh Moser that X-rays on Van Ginkel’s foot were negative and that he would have an MRI on Monday.

Later Monday, multiple outlets reported that Van Ginkel will miss this weekend's game with Kansas City due to the foot injury. 

Losing Van Ginkel is big blow for the Dolphins, as he serves as an edge rusher in Miami’s defense and the team has already seen Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and Cameron Goode suffer injuries at the position.

Van Ginkel is in his fifth NFL season, all with Miami, after the Dolphins selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He is having another quality season for the Dolphins, as he has 69 total tackles (42 solo) with a career-high six sacks. His career-high in tackles in 71 back in 2021.

For his five-year career he has 250 total tackles and 17 sacks.

He transferred to Wisconsin before the 2017 season and he played two seasons for the Badgers. In two seasons in Madison he had 98 tackles, 12 sacks and two interceptions. In 2018 he was named Third-Team All-Big Ten after he had a career-best 59 tackles with 5.5 sacks.