Dolphins add four-time Pro Bowler to injury-riddled D-line

The only thing worse than the Dolphins' Week 18 loss to the Bills that dropped them from the No. 2 seed to the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoffs is their multitude of injuries. That is why the team made the necessary move of adding a capable veteran to its defensive line on Tuesday.

According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Miami is signing veteran pass-rusher Justin Houston ahead of its wild-card matchup against the Chiefs (11-6) on Saturday night.

The four-time Pro Bowler played in seven games for the Panthers this season before suffering a hamstring injury in Week 8 that landed him on injured reserve. He was later granted his request to be released from the team in December.

The 34-year-old is certainly nearing the end of his impressive 13-year career in which he has totaled 514 tackles, 112 sacks, 19 forced fumbles and five interceptions. But he may just have enough gas left in the tank to help the Dolphins make a run to the Super Bowl.

Miami will surely be relying on him as it has seen several injuries to its defensive line. The team already lost linebackers Bradley Chubb (ACL) and Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) for the season. 

They will be joined by linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel (foot), Jerome Baker (wrist) and Cameron Goode (knee), who have been ruled out of the postseason as well after suffering injuries in the regular season finale.

Emmanuel Ogbah and Melvin Ingram are now the only healthy outside linebackers on the Dolphins' roster.  So, it's now or never for the former third-round pick by the Chiefs in 2011. 

If Houston can still make an impact against his former team this weekend, he may buy himself another year or two in the league. If not, his short stint in Miami may just be his farewell tour.