South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Phillips progressing steadily 3 months after torn Achilles
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips looks great three months to the day of tearing his right Achilles tendon, Nov. 24 in a win over the New York Jets.
Phillips was out of a boot and without a scooter, walking around the Hard Rock Stadium campus Saturday at Dolphins Challenge Cancer, the team’s annual marquee charity initiative which raises funds for cancer research.
Is that ahead of schedule for a torn Achilles for the edge rusher who had 6 ½ sacks in eight games in 2023 before suffering the season-ending injury?
“I don’t know what the schedule is,” said Phillips, who serves as a co-chair for the esteemed charity event. “All I know is I feel strong. I feel great. Just attacking this rehab has been awesome so far.”
Phillips, while suffering an array of injuries in college at UCLA that had him momentarily retire from football before transferring to the Miami Hurricanes for a standout 2020 college season, had been relatively healthy in his first two NFL seasons before his third year with the Dolphins was cut short. A lengthy rehab is uncharted territory for the 2021 first-round draft pick.
“It’s definitely different,” he said. “It’s something that’s kind of new to me because I’ve never had a lower-extremity injury like that — long term, at least. So it’s been cool, it’s been a new experience learning my body and figuring out what to do is best for me. So it’s been great.”
Phillips is up for the fifth-year option of his contract this offseason, along with fellow 2021 first-rounder in wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The Dolphins have a tough decision to make by May 2 on the physical, explosive specimen on the edge who is coming off a difficult injury.
But Phillips, with a dedicated approach, reports his rehab has gone smoothly, a good sign early in the offseason.
“I honestly haven’t had any bad days throughout the whole process, since surgery. Been locked in and just motivated to get back for the season,” he said. “I guess the biggest thing I’ve taken out of it is just understanding that God has a bigger plan and sometimes life, things happen that it’s hard to find a reason why, but why doesn’t really matter it’s how you respond.
“For me, just being able to keep my head up throughout this process and find some silver linings and just understand that I can use this time to improve on other aspects of my life. It’s been great so far.”
Phillips is going through an offseason rehab as the Dolphins’ outside linebacker on the opposite edge, Bradley Chubb, recovers from a torn ACL Dec. 31 against the Baltimore Ravens.
“We’ve been pushing each other hard,” Phillips said. “We love each other, and we’re just motivating each other always and just getting each other right.”
Phillips spoke for the first time since the Dolphins’ new defensive coordinator hire of Anthony Weaver, a former NFL defensive lineman who was most recently defensive line coach and assistant head coach with the Ravens.
“He’s a great guy, really down to earth, family guy, and we’ve had some great conversations so far, just getting to know each other,” Phillips said. “Anytime you get a coach that’s a former player, you have that perspective that’s hard to have unless you really lace the cleats up.”
Phillips also reacted to Friday’s news that Miami released defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah and was set to release cornerback Xavien Howard at the start of the new league year in the middle of March.
“It’s going to be tough,” Phillips said. “Me, personally, Emmanuel was somebody who had me under his wings since I came in as a rookie. It’s really unfortunate to see him go, but the team’s going to rally around each other. Definitely going to miss my brother.
“Same thing with X. Those two were staples on this team for quite a while.”
Phillips has taken the initiative to play a strong role in the Dolphins Challenge Cancer as a co-chair with Elizabeth Jenkins, the widow of late Dolphins executive Jason Jenkins, who died Aug. 27, 2022 and always made sure the event was world class.
“DCC, to me, is extremely important,” Phillips said. “I’ve had several family members and family friends who have been affected by cancer. So for me to be able to just come out here and raise some funds for cancer research and just show my support and bring the community together, it’s really a blessing.”
Last year, Phillips cycled 99 miles at DCC. There are also 54-mile, 39-mile and 13-mile options, along with a 5-kilometer run/walk. The four cycling distances represent Dolphins Hall of Fame member jersey numbers of Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, Larry Csonka and Dan Marino.
Recovering from a torn Achilles, he wasn’t getting on a bike Saturday, but he hopes to be back for the longest distance in 2025.
“A pretty cool experience because I get to see more people,” Phillips said. “Obviously, I love riding. I love supporting the cause. But it’s cool that I am here.”
Last year, the Dolphins gathered a record-breaking 5,641 participants at the event, raising more than $10.5 million, totals that the organization expects to surpass at Saturday’s 14th installment.