Before Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips entered the NFL, he nearly had the game of football torn from him following injuries at UCLA that forced him to medically retire from the sport.
Luckily, he was able to come back and have a strong final season with the Miami Hurricanes which led to him being selected by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2021 draft.
However, Phillips previously spoke about just how hard it was for him to be away from the game, and prior to this season, he hadn’t missed a game since entering the NFL.
On Monday, the linebacker opened up about how being away from the field for three games this year had him questioning his ability.
“I mean, health was obviously a big part of it, but I think that confidence plays a lot too,” Phillips explained. “It was really tough for me, I’m not going to lie, pretty much that month where I missed three and a half games essentially and was dealing with all those injuries. It’s pretty crazy what it can do to you psychologically when it comes to confidence, when it comes to preparedness, just everything.
“I just felt like I was a shell of myself. Even when I was getting back onto the field, I was second-guessing everything. So starting with the Panthers game, it felt good to get back out there. Eagles game, especially getting the sack on Lane (Johnson), things like that boost your confidence a little bit. Then the last two games, I feel like I’m pretty much clicking on all cylinders. Obviously, there’s little technique things to clean up and things like that, but I just think in terms of my effort, in terms of my confidence when I’m rushing the passer, it’s getting to where I want it to be.”
Heading into Miami’s Week 7 matchup with the Eagles, Phillips had recorded 13 total tackles and a half-sack in three games played. With a matchup against an undefeated team Johnson, who hadn’t allowed a sack since 2020, there was obviously some nerves.
“I mean, yeah honestly for me with that, I was really anxious leading up to the game,” Phillips said. “Coming off injury and obviously a big primetime game against the Eagles and going up against Lane Johnson, and like I said my confidence had been kind of shot the weeks prior to that, so I was really anxious leading up to it.
“Honestly, I was kind of second-guessing myself, thinking damn, I don’t even know if I can beat this guy. I don’t even know if I can just straight win and get a sack. I was like I’ll be able to run around maybe, get a second effort sack or something like that. To be able to go out there and actually perform, it was a good matchup. He obviously got me a few times, I got him a few times, but even just to be able to win against a guy like that gave me a lot of confidence.”
In the two games since that matchup, Phillips has collected another 13 tackles and two sacks. On top of that, his presence has allowed Bradley Chubb to flourish on the other side.
It’s actually been his partner in edge rushing that he’s been talking to about these struggles.
“I mean that’s really what Bradley and I have been doing for each other this whole season,” Phillips said. “At the beginning, I don’t want to share his journey for him and obviously at the beginning of the season, he wasn’t having the numbers he’d like to. These last four weeks, he’s been going crazy and obviously feeling better now.
“But towards the beginning of the season, it’s funny, because we were always picking each other up. When he would be down, I would pick him up. The next day I’d be down, he’d pick me up. I’m like, we can’t keep doing this. We just have to be happy. But that’s really how it is, and to be able to have a teammate who understands you and understands what you go through, it really just helps a lot. Although it is a macho sport, I don’t think we have that, especially on this team.
“We’re not afraid to be vulnerable. We’re not afraid to be honest and open with each other and I think that starts from the head down. That’s how Mike (McDaniel) is, that’s how all of our coaches are pretty much. It really helps to be able to have those shared experiences with people because it makes you feel like you’re not alone.”
Phillips is one of the better young linebackers in the league, and it’s unfortunate that injuries ever made him question that. However, it’s great to hear him speak up about it and share his story. And, it’s also great to see him making an impact in aqua and orange each week.
