Raheem Mostert was prepared to start strong in 2021 with the San Francisco 49ers after missing eight games in 2020 due to various ankle problems.
The former Purdue running back, though, sustained a knee injury after just two carries into the season, sidelining him for the rest of the year.
Mostert’s career to this point has unfortunately been marked by difficulty keeping off the pitch. He has only taken the field in 59 out of 113 possible games during his seven seasons in the NFL.
It is reasonable to assume that any player would feel their chances of returning were slim at 30 years and after undergoing another surgery. But he’s taking the advice of his doctors and expects to be back to running the ball like before in no time.
Even more so, Mostert mentioned another Dolphin who he thinks underwent surgery from the same surgeon.
Mike McDaniel, the new head coach of the Dolphins, spent five seasons with Mostert in 2017, so he is familiar with the type of player he can be when healthy. However, his staff is being cautious in bringing Mostert back from this injury.
Mostert’s strong career average of 5.7 yards per attempt and familiarity with the system would be very helpful to Miami’s offense in 2022, but with the existing stable of backs on the roster, the Dolphins can ensure that he is fully healthy before making a comeback.
Why is Raheem Mostert not playing?
In the first half of the opening game of the regular season, which was played against the Detroit Lions, Mostert suffered a knee injury. He underwent surgery in October, and as a result, he was sidelined for the rest of the season.