Report: Jaelan Phillips “Definitely” Back for Week 1
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By: Nick Sabatino
Jaelen Phillips torn achilles recovery may be better than expected.
The last visual of Jalean Phillips’ 2023 season was being carted off the field after suffering a torn Achilles on Black Friday against the New York Jets. It was a tough pill to swallow for Miami Dolphins fans, knowing their young, star pass rusher was now gone for the season and possibly into the following year.
Phillips was having his best season as a Dolphin, with 43 total tackles and 6.5 sacks in 7.5 games. He was looking at 13+ sacks, marking his first double-digit sack season, and 70+ total tackles. The man was on a mission, making plays all over the field and, in his own words, “hoopin’.”
Jaelan Phillips in his last 5 games before his injury:
➖ 26 total tackles
➖ 8 QB hits
➖ 6.0 sacks
➖ 1 interceptionJaelan Phillips was BREAKING out right before our very eyes before his injury. #FinsUp https://t.co/aWxi1mUsVY pic.twitter.com/BTdh7BWyFZ
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) April 7, 2024
The injury to Phillips and Bradley Chubb’s ACL tear five weeks later left a crater at pass rusher. In 2023, Andrew Van Ginkel filled the void well, but he walked in free agency to the Minnesota Vikings.
The Dolphins addressed the position in free agency by signing former All-Pro Shaq Barrett to hold it down. Barrett is on the back nine of his career and on the fun slide down his prime. He’s still got juice left in the tank, so why not take a shot at him in hopes he can have a strong first half of the season until reinforcements arrive?
At least, that’s what we thought the plan was. Barrett on one side, Cameron Goode on the other, and sprinkle in a rookie they may draft. Jaelan Phillips read those plans and decided to crumble it up and throw it in the trash.
Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips, recovering from his Black Friday torn Achilles, tells ESPN during UM spring game that “I’ll definitely be back healthy for the season.”
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 13, 2024
A fully torn Achilles is usually a twelve-month recovery. If you grade on a curve with NFL bodies, top surgeons, and top-of-the-line training staff and facilities, you’re looking closer to a nine-month timetable. That would put Phillips returning during the preseason with zero setbacks.
Phillips put in the work and has been attacking his rehab, putting himself in a position to be available for week one. He’s been at plenty of Dolphins events with no reported noticeable limp and doesn’t shy away from cameras, so this doesn’t feel like false hype or anything like that.
He’s progressing at the front of the recovery timetable, and I’d estimate that Dolphins fans will get to see him on the field even before week one, even if it is for limited snaps.
Bradley Chubb, Jevon Holland and Jaelan Phillips hanging out with former Miami Dolphins players Mack Hollins, Brandon Jones, Justin Bethel and DeShon Elliott ️ (@briyojones) #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/LlmfQuvP1o
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) April 7, 2024
If I’m the Dolphins, I’m thanking whoever I believe in that Jaelan Phillips was relentless in rehab to get back on the field despite already having a bunch of past injuries in college that almost made him leave football altogether. His work ethic is being displayed right in front of our eyes.
All in all, the starting pass rushers for week one will be Jaelan Phillips and Shaq Barrett. You can rely on that and possibly thrive on it. Hold the fort until Bradley Chubb is back, and the Dolphins will be locked and loaded on the edges.
Let us know in the comments how Jaelan Phillips being available in week one impacts the defense.
Originally posted on The Phinsider
