In a significant show of faith, the Miami Dolphins have re-signed Emmanuel Ogbah following the sudden retirement of Shaquil Barrett. However, the biggest news coming out of South Florida centers around the remarkable recovery and return of Jaelan Phillips.
The Dolphins are celebrating Phillips' activation from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, a mere nine months after suffering a devastating Achilles tear. The 24-year-old defensive end was projected for a breakout season before his unfortunate injury in Week 12 of the 2023 NFL campaign. Yet, thanks to the dedication of the Dolphins' training and strength staff, he has made a triumphant return.
“It's just taught me a lot of patience. Your body is going to be ready when your body is ready, so I've just been doing everything humanly possible to give my body what it needs and take the time to get after it,” Phillips shared, reflecting on his arduous rehabilitation journey.
Phillips is no stranger to resilience. Drafted 18th overall in 2021, he has recorded a commendable 22 sacks and 24 tackles for loss over three NFL seasons. His injury last year was a major setback, but Phillips has shown an indomitable spirit. “I have such a good training staff here and such a good strength staff, and we've been working our asses off for eight-and-a-half months now. I just, like I said, feel very fortunate to be back out here doing what I love again,” he said.
Recovery from an Achilles tear typically ranges between nine to twelve months. Phillips' return within the minimum timeframe is a testament to his dedication and the support system around him. His activation ensures he will avoid missing at least four games, a certainty if he had remained on the PUP list after the final roster cuts in late August.
In his quest for recovery, Phillips sought advice from several NFL players who had faced similar injuries. “I checked in with him, he's checked in with me throughout the process. His situation is a little different than mine, it's kind of not really comparable in that sense. Shaq [Barrett] was somebody I talked to, I talked to Kirk [Cousins], but again another quarterback, it's kind of a different situation. Vince Biegel is a guy who I played with. He did his Achilles a couple of times. Cam Akers when I was back in LA doing my rehab, he was there as well,” Phillips recounted.
These interactions provided Phillips with invaluable insights. “I've just been picking people's brains and kind of the main takeaway I've gotten from everybody is that they feel 100%. They don't feel like they had to miss a step or whether it's a year or two years afterwards, they don't feel there is an injury there. That just definitely reassured me, like I said, the more I've been able to do, the less I've been thinking about the Achilles and the more I've been building confidence. It feels great,” he stated, showing a renewed sense of optimism.
The road to recovery might have been long and grueling, but Phillips' mental fortitude never wavered. “Probably the highest I've been in my NFL career, and then to be humbled just like that, it was devastating. But right when that happened, I remembered going to the shower and I was crying. I just told myself, like 'This is OK. I'm going to attack this. I'm going to get over this and this is going to make me stronger at the end of the day.' I really thanked God. I really said thank you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, because I know it's going to make me a monster,” Phillips emotionally recounted.
The Dolphins have had their share of challenges this season, including Bradley Chubb's ongoing recovery from an ACL tear he sustained in Week 17 and the loss of Christian Wilkins to the Las Vegas Raiders via free agency. Despite these setbacks, the re-signing of Ogbah and the return of Phillips inject a much-needed boost into the team's defense. Phillips' return is not just about physical recovery but also about reinforcing his role as a pivotal figure in the Dolphins' defense.
As the season progresses, Phillips is set to return to gameplay, driven by a renewed vigor and determination to excel, further solidifying his role as a cornerstone of the Dolphins' defense.