Jaelan Phillips is still less than nine months removed from the Achilles tear that ended his 2023 season, but the Miami Dolphins pass rusher is already back on the practice field prepping to play in 2024.
By all indications, he’ll be on the field when Miami begins the regular season against the Jacksonville Jaguars, too. On Tuesday, Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver told reporters that Phillips looks fully healthy, although he wasn’t quite ready to say it’s full steam ahead for the outside linebacker.
“I think we’re going to have to listen to his body, right?” Weaver said. “Ultimately, I don’t think you want to put a number count on that kid, but we know we have to be smart in how we approach this so he can maintain and last throughout the entire season.
“But I’m certainly not counting that kid out of anything. You saw how fast he’s gotten back from the Achilles, and he looks like a man-child out there when he has gone. … He’s looked great. He’s great. He looks like the Jaelan Phillips we all expect to see.”
A healthy and productive version of Phillips would be a welcomed sight for the Dolphins. Bradley Chubb is still on the PUP list while he recovers from an ACL tear suffered late in the 2023 season. Otherwise, Miami will be relying on some combination of Emmanuel Ogbah, Quinton Bell, and rookies Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara to generate pressure off the edge.
Phillips had 15.5 sacks through his first two NFL seasons and was putting together a career-best year in 2023 before his injury. While minor back and oblique issues kept him out three of the first five weeks, he had six sacks in five games before his Achilles tear.
