In a significant move that underscores their confidence in his recovery, the Miami Dolphins have re-signed Emmanuel Ogbah following Shaquil Barrett's retirement. The team is also celebrating the activation of Jaelan Phillips from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, just nine months after a devastating Achilles tear. The 24-year-old defensive end, who was on course for a breakout season before his injury in Week 12 of the 2023 NFL campaign, is now set to return to the field.
Resilience and Patience
Jaelan Phillips' journey back to fitness has been nothing short of inspiring. He emphasized the importance of patience in his recovery process, saying, “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.”
The Dolphins' training and strength staff played a crucial role in Phillips' recovery. “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 added, expressing gratitude for the support and expertise that facilitated his return.
Navigating the Road to Recovery
NFL players typically require between nine to twelve months to rehabilitate from an Achilles tear, but Phillips has been determined to expedite his recovery while ensuring he doesn’t compromise on his long-term health. His swift return to practice is a testament to his dedication and hard work.
Throughout the rehab process, Phillips 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. 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 explained. Their experiences offered him valuable insights and reassurances about his potential for a full 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.”
The Mental Battle
The journey back to playing condition was not just a physical challenge but a mental one as well. Phillips vividly recollected the moment of his injury and the resolve he found within himself immediately afterward. “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.”
Due to the timing of his activation, Phillips would have missed at least four games if he had stayed on the PUP list during the final roster cuts in late August. His timely recovery has thus not only buoyed his own morale but also strengthened the entire Dolphins' defensive lineup.
What's Next for Miami's Defense
While Phillips' return is a major boost, the team still faces the challenge of managing other key injuries. Bradley Chubb is in the process of recovering from an ACL tear he sustained in Week 17, and Christian Wilkins has moved to the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent. Nonetheless, Miami's re-signing of Ogbah and Phillips' return provide a solid foundation for their defensive strategies moving forward.
Drafted 18th overall in 2021, Jaelan Phillips has already showcased his potential with a total of 22 sacks and 24 tackles for loss over three NFL seasons. Linking up with his teammates and returning to gameplay, Phillips is poised to continue striving for excellence and achieving career-high numbers, further solidifying his role as a pivotal figure in the Dolphins' defense.