In a significant display of confidence and strategic foresight, the Miami Dolphins have re-signed Emmanuel Ogbah following Shaquil Barrett's retirement. In parallel, the team is celebrating the activation of Jaelan Phillips from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, marking a remarkable recovery just nine months after a devastating Achilles tear.
Jaelan Phillips, a 24-year-old defensive end, was set for a breakout season before his injury halted his progress in Week 12 of the 2023 NFL campaign. Drafted 18th overall in 2021, Phillips has already established a commendable record with 22 sacks and 24 tackles for loss over three NFL seasons.
The Dolphins' training and strength staff played a pivotal role in Phillips' recovery. NFL players typically require between nine to twelve months to rehabilitate from an Achilles tear, and Phillips' return within nine months exemplifies both his dedication and the expertise of the Dolphins' medical team. "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," Phillips shared. "I just, like I said, feel very fortunate to be back out here doing what I love again."
Phillips' journey to recovery was not solitary; he sought advice from several NFL players who had undergone similar injuries. "I checked in with him, he's checked in with me throughout the process," Phillips said, referencing his conversations with teammates and other league players. "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."
The activation of Phillips from the PUP list is timely, as his continued presence on the list during the final roster cuts in late August would have led to him missing at least four games of the season. His speedy recovery has certainly injected a renewed vigor into the Dolphins' defense, already preparing to optimize their defensive strategies.
The Dolphins’ defensive lineup has seen significant changes, including the transition of Christian Wilkins to the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent and Bradley Chubb's ongoing recovery from an ACL tear sustained in Week 17. Nevertheless, Phillips is set to return and continue striving for excellence, further solidifying his role as a key figure in the Dolphins' defense.
Reflecting on his arduous recovery, Phillips shared insights into his mental and physical journey. "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,” he explained. Phillips’ resilience and positive outlook have clearly been instrumental. "Probably the highest I've been in my NFL career, and then to be humbled just like that, it was devastating,” he admitted. “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 also spoke about the encouragement he received from others who had endured similar injuries, proving instrumental in his mental recovery. "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.”
With Phillips back on the field and Ogbah re-signed, the Miami Dolphins look set to navigate the upcoming season with a reinforced defense. The team’s strategic decisions and the determination of players like Phillips exemplify their commitment to excellence and resilience in the face of adversity.