Dolphins LB Jaelan Phillips suffers Achilles injury vs. Jets،
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips left Friday’s 34-13 win over the New York Jets because of an Achilles injury and did not return, throwing a dark cloud over an otherwise dominant performance from the Dolphins defense.
Phillips suffered a non-contact leg injury late in the fourth quarter; the television replay showed what appeared to be a calf shot – a telltale sign of a ruptured Achilles tendon. He was taken back to the locker room on a cart and was visibly emotional as he left the field.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was not optimistic about Phillips’ injury when he provided an update after the game.
“It’s his Achilles, it doesn’t look great, but we’ll know more tomorrow,” McDaniel said. “Yeah, I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I’m not excited about it.”
Phillips was surrounded by his teammates as he was helped onto the cart in what McDaniel described as an “emotional” moment.
Absolutely devastated, but feeling strong knowing that this is all part of God’s plan and that I have an amazing team and support system around me. I will come back stronger than ever 💪🏽 Ends raised 🐬🙏🏾
– Jaelan Phillips ;🕴🏾® (@JJPhillips15) November 25, 2023
McDaniel said the Dolphins are preparing for the “worst case scenario” when it comes to Phillips, but added he believes the third-year linebacker has the right temperament to bounce back from his injury.
“I think one of the unique things about this team is there’s a lot of shared backgrounds, so everyone sees what they bring to the table on a daily basis,” McDaniel said. “Everyone knows how much he wants to improve his game and be absolutely great in this league, which he’s done and I’m very proud of him all season and it’s very, very difficult in the short term to my point of view.
“If it’s the worst case scenario, you also have the opportunity to write your own story. He’s the kind of person and he has the right mindset that allows him to transform anything that is perceived as negative into a possible positive. But it’s going to be difficult.”
A prolonged absence of Phillips would likely result in increased roles for linebacker Andrew van Ginkel, who has 4 sacks this season, and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, who totaled 18 sacks in 2020 and 2021 before signing a $65 million contract. dollars during the 2022 offseason.
Phillips is the latest in a long list of players to suffer an injury on the turf field at MetLife Stadium, including Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who tore his Achilles just four plays into the season.
Dolphins safety Jevon Holland called the field “trash,” while running back Raheem Mostert, who has long been a staunch advocate of turf playing surfaces, insisted something had to be made for the MetLife Stadium field.
“I mean, you saw what happened to Rodgers in the very first game of the first series, and it sucks, man,” he said. “And for JP, I know he’s going to get his mentality back and come back stronger and better than ever. But we have to do something about this turf and this playing surface. Obviously, it’s still a major problem even trying to understand. what we can do, but I don’t know. It just needs to change.
Phillips played in just 8 of the Dolphins’ 11 games this season, but was tied for the team lead with 6.5 sacks. Speaking to local media last week, the 2021 first-round pick said the injuries he suffered earlier this season took a toll on him mentally.
“It was really tough for me, I’m not going to lie, about that month where I missed basically three and a half games and had to deal with all these injuries,” he said. he declared on November 13. “I can do you psychologically in terms of confidence, preparation, everything. I just felt like I was a shell of myself. Even when I got back on the field, I questioned everything.”
Phillips medically retired after a series of injuries during his first two collegiate seasons at UCLA, before retiring and transferring to the University of Miami. He had played in all 34 games possible in his first two seasons with the Dolphins, recording a team-high 15.5 sacks during that span.
