Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips was playing at a Pro Bowl caliber level throughout the 2023 season. The Dolphins’ defense alone was one of the best pass-rushing teams in the NFL due to Phillips’ effort causing havoc alongside fellow linebacker Bradley Chubb and former Miami defensive tackle Christian Wilkens. Almost nothing was stopping Phillips from a career-high year.
Unfortunately, his season last year ended on a sour note. Phillips tore his right Achilles in a non-contact injury trying to get to the quarterback against the New York Jets on Black Friday last year. Nearly nine months later, the 25-year-old pass rusher is back active on the field once again.
Dolphins Former First-Round Pass Rusher Back in Practice
Phillips’ Return
The Dolphins activated Phillips off the physically unable to perform list before practice Monday. The linebacker was placed on the PUP list on July 18. Previously, Phillips was put on injured reserve to end the 2023 season. He ended that year with 43 combined tackles, 6.5 sacks, and an interception through eight games played.
Phillips throughout training camp has been present off the field with Chubb, who also was placed on the PUP list, as the Dolphins did drills and scrimmage. The four-year veteran worked individually on the sideline to regroup his momentum back. Whether he worked on hand techniques, or playing catch with the fans in the stands, Phillips never was not moving.
While sidelined, head coach Mike McDaniel learned that the first-string linebacker is a capable, strong learner, he said. Phillips’ head coach always acknowledged him as an impact player, but saw the pass rusher build toward a level of confidence and conviction on how to play his position toward the point of Phillips’ injury.
“For a guy that has ambitions as he does, he wants to be great in the worst way,” McDaniel said. “It is a long vision challenge to attack this injury appropriately, and not something by nature is totally his speed…to watch him diligently go about the process, and I thought he was going to be a No. 1 violator of secretly overdoing what he was supposed to do.”
McDaniel was very proud of Phillips’ process back and doing what leaders do, which the head coach described as feeling his presence as a teammate even without him participating in practice. The team will monitor Phillips throughout training camp, but an official workout plan for him has yet to be announced.
Great Showing in First Active Practice Back
Phillips after team stretches went straight to hand technique work with fellow pass rusher Emmanuel Ogbah. The starting linebacker looked fast and effective in position drills with the other linebackers. Phillips’ quickness was evident and appeared to not have faltered when doing drills. He attacked the striking pads with force and speed.
In 11-on-11 work, Phillips and other inactive players like wide receiver Erik Ezukanma took part, but it gradually turned into a walkthrough. The slow pace showed little pieces of Phillips. Still, a 100% team offense vs. defense drill for the linebacker will have to wait. Overall, Phillips looked well on his way toward Miami’s week one regular season matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Phillips’ First Words Back From Recovery
Phillips told himself that he would attack the recovery process and overcome it following his injury. The linebacker believed that the process back to the field is making him stronger at the end of each day. Even thanked God for giving him the opportunity of climbing back from injury because Phillips knows it will make him a monster, he said.
The road to recovery was long for Phillips. The linebacker said he basically couldn’t walk for four whole months after that Black Friday. It took time for him to get back to being active. First, he started on the treadmill and then gradually made his way to running on the ground. Each workout on grass left him sore.
Despite the long road back, Phillips didn’t care about the lengthy timeline and took it week-by-week. The former first-round pick is trying to hit the ground running and said he feels ‘really explosive and really strong’ right now.
“It’s been a hell of a journey just having to test my patience,” Phillips said. “It’s just been an up and down process. Like most things in life in general aren’t linear, but especially recovering from injuries — a major injury like that — it’s not linear. There’s been a lot of peaks, a lot of valleys, but I feel like I’m in a really strong part of my recovery right now and I’m making a lot of big strides.”
Phillips throughout his time away from the field watched a lot of film, including the Dolphins Hard Knocks: In Season episodes from last year. The old film gave him confidence while he was away from football. Now back on the field, that confidence is expected to grow with Miami’s training camp continued with Phillips active toward his fourth year in the NFL.
Main Photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
