Jaelan Phillips eager to increase workload
Phillips takes eager approach to return from injury, with greater practice workload
MIAMI GARDENS — To describe Jaelan Phillips in a word as he increased his practice workload on Wednesday, the right term would be eager.
“I’ve just been sitting, literally just itching, crawling out of my skin to get back,” said Phillips, the Miami Dolphins’ rookie outside linebacker, on Wednesday after the team’s first of two joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons ahead of their preseason game Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium. “I’m blessed that I could come out here, get the reps that I get. I’m definitely feeling better and excited to keep going.”
Phillips, who could be on track to see his first NFL preseason action Saturday, was seen more active during team portions of Wednesday’s drills as he’s been brought back slowly from what a source told the South Florida Sun Sentinel was a groin injury that sidelined him since the first week of training camp.
Phillips, the former University of Miami standout whom the Dolphins used the No. 18 pick on in this year’s draft, participated lightly in the first of two joint practices with the Bears in Chicago last week — but was not seen in any team drills against the Bears — before sitting out the second and remaining out for the exhibition last Saturday. On Tuesday, Phillips was involved in a walk-through practice the Dolphins held.
“When we are trying to work guys back, we just want to take our time and not have any setbacks,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said Tuesday. “He’s doing everything he can possibly do to get out there. As a young guy, he needs reps, but at the same time, we want to be smart with our plan to bring him back.”
And after about a week and a half of watching practice off to the side or doing conditioning on the on-field stationary bike before the team traveled to Chicago, Phillips is closer and closer to being fully ready.
“I’m feeling good. I’m just getting better every single day. Obviously, the time out was frustrating,” Phillips said. “It just always makes you appreciate the game more, when you get it taken away for a couple of weeks. Just know, when I came back [Wednesday], I was definitely excited.”
The approach Phillips took while away is consistent with what he has shown Miami coaches early in his professional career.
“A kid that wants to be a good player. He shows up to work, is consistent day in and day out,” outside linebackers coach Rob Leonard told the Sun Sentinel last week. “Always engaged, his attention to detail — that’s a good start.”
While Phillips was out, he took in the Dolphins’ preseason opener at Soldier Field from the sideline, mentally preparing himself for what NFL action looks like once he does get his opportunity.
“It just gives you a new perspective of the game,” Phillips said. “You see things differently. You have different conversations with the coaches and everything like that. I thought that we played really hard, definitely have some things to work on, but it’s only up from here.”
Phillips will be asked largely to stand up as an outside linebacker in Miami’s defense, which is different from what he primarily did with UM during his breakout 2020 season that catapulted him into the first round. But he was also seen at Wednesday’s practice putting his hand in the ground, displaying some versatility that opposing offensive lines will have to prepare for.
“It’s definitely something that I’m used to and comfortable with and excited about,” he said of playing in the defensive end’s three-point stance. “You’re going to see me doing a couple of different things.
“I love being able to utilize my body, do everything that I can, so the fact that standing up some, putting my hand in the dirt — I’m a team guy, so I just want to do everything that I can to help the team.”
Phillips stopped short of saying that starting is a goal of his in his rookie season, but he wants to contribute to a Dolphins defense that will need the combination of edge setting in the run game and pass rushing that he can bring.
“I’m just here, plug and play,” said Phillips. “I’m just here to do whatever they need me to do, depending on the reps that the coaches want to give me. That’s up to them. I can’t really control that. Just know I’m out here working my hardest to improve on every aspect of my game. I’ll be ready when that time comes.
“I’m a versatile guy. I can kill you with speed, kill you with power. … They always say, ‘You don’t want to be a jack-of-all-trades as a pass rusher. You want to be able to master one or two moves.’ ”