Dolphins’ Jerome Baker injured; Van Ginkel, Ogbah excel

LANDOVER, Maryland — The outside linebacker combination of Andrew Van Ginkel and Emmanuel Ogbah is holding up well in place of the injured Jaelan Phillips for the Miami Dolphins against the Washington Commanders on Sunday at FedEx Field.

Late in the first quarter, Van Ginkel intercepted a short pass from Commanders quarterback Sam Howell and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown.

Later in the first half, Ogbah picked up a sack on Howell. Ogbah then flashed a 1 and 5 with his hands that Fox cameras picked up on the broadcast. It was an ode to Phillips, whose jersey number is 15.

Phillips tore the Achilles in his right leg in the Dolphins’ last game, a 34-13 win against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 24. He is out for the rest of the season.

Phillips was watching the game and posting supportive messages on social media throughout.

Ogbah, who hasn’t played many snaps defensively, now quietly has five sacks on the season. Van Ginkel also was the first to get to Howell earlier in the first quarter on a sack that ended up split by Bradley Chubb, the right outside linebacker, and defensive tackle Zach Sieler.

Baker injures knee

Dolphins inside linebacker Jerome Baker suffered a knee against the Commanders and has been ruled out for the game.

Baker was in coverage against wide receiver Curtis Samuel and chasing him after a catch before Samuel reached the end zone down the sideline. While in pursuit, safety Brandon Jones shot over to tackle Samuel out of bounds before reaching the pylon and, in the process, took out Baker, who immediately clutched at his left knee.

Baker was down on the field for a few minutes before trainers assisted him out through the nearby tunnel behind the corner of the end zone. About 15 minutes later, Baker was announced as out for the remainder of Sunday’s game by the club.

Without Baker, backup linebacker Duke Riley is seeing more snaps defensively alongside David Long Jr. Van Ginkel is also capable of playing off the ball at inside linebacker, but he is already replacing Phillips on the edge.

Baker finished with four tackles against Washington.

Meanwhile, Miami left tackle Terron Armstead injured his ankle Sunday.

He already entered questionable after hurting a hamstring in the Dolphins’ Nov. 24 win over the Jets and has been playing through the knee ailment he initially suffered Oct. 1 at Buffalo.

Armstead was deemed questionable to return by the team at halftime with the ankle injury. Kion Smith was in for him at left tackle to open the second half.

Holland out

The Dolphins were without safety Jevon Holland for Sunday’s game.

Holland was among inactive players announced 90 minutes prior to kickoff at FedEx Field.

Holland is recovering from injuries to both knees after an awkward tackle in the fourth quarter of the Dolphins’ last game against the Jets, on Nov. 24.

“It was one of those unfortunate things that, him playing at a very high level and playing fast, that happened,” coach Mike McDaniel said Friday before Holland was deemed questionable leading into Sunday. “He’s been aggressively going after his rehab.”

Earlier in that win over the Jets, Holland had his remarkable 99-yard interception return for a touchdown on a New York Hail Mary attempt right before halftime.

Without Holland, Jones started at safety opposite DeShon Elliott.

With Armstead active at left tackle and Robert Hunt back in the starting lineup at right guard, Liam Eichenberg started at left guard over Lester Cotton.

Of the other three Dolphins that were questionable ahead of Sunday’s matchup with Washington, two — offensive linemen Cotton (illness) and Kendall Lamm (back) — are available. Robert Jones (knee) remains out.

Healthy inactives for the Dolphins were tight end Tyler Kroft, wide receiver Robbie Chosen, cornerback Eli Apple and quarterback Skylar Thompson, who is available as an emergency third quarterback.

This story will be updated.