‘You Feel His Presence’ – The Many Ways Jaelan Phillips’ Return Helps Miami Dolphins

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Jaelan Phillips is back, and the Miami Dolphins — not to mention their fans — could not be more thrilled.

Phillips was in uniform and practiced Monday for the first time since tearing his Achilles on Black Friday 2023. The injury usually has a 9-to-12-month rehab process, and Phillips is apparently on the front end of that timeline.

Jaelan Phillips Returns to Miami Dolphins Practice

Phillips’ return electrified Dolphins fans in attendance for Monday’s training camp session. They called out his name during warmups, and he acknowledged the support with a smile and a raised fist.

Phillips’ activation four weeks shy of the season opener suggests the Dolphins have the highest degree of confidence that he will be in the lineup in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

If there was any uncertainty at all, they likely would have kept him on PUP and preserved the roster flexibility. Barring a setback, he’ll be on their Week 1 roster.

“This was a test of internal fortitude, for Jaelan, his game, he’s always been an impact player,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said prior to practice Monday.

“Right when he got injured, there was momentum swinging in a positive regard towards his conviction of how to play his position. He was feeling a different level of confidence. And then for a guy who has ambitions as he does, he wants to be great in the worst way. It’s a long vision challenge to attack this injury appropriately.

“…. He wants to fix the issue and go play. To watch him diligently go about the process. I thought he was going to be a No. 1 violator of secretly overdoing of what he was supposed to do. To be patient and to have the vision for his teammates really. We’re all relying on him coming back and being able to first find his footing from a health perspective and then be able to contribute to this team, I’ve been very proud of how he’s attacked that.”

McDaniel added that “you feel [Phillips] presence as a teammate. Even when he’s not playing, he definitely took note, both him and Bradley [Chubb] did, of how, Jalen Ramsey attacked his injury last year. As a result, he’s already impacted the 2024 Dolphins before he’s even stepped on the field. Excited for him to go to the next stage and we’ll see how his body responds to that.”

Phillips’ return to the active roster came on the same day that the Dolphins formally lost two linebackers who were absolutely in the conversation to make Miami’s 53-man roster.

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Grayson Murphy and Cam Brown were both placed on injured reserve Monday after getting hurt in Friday night’s preseason opener.

The Dolphins filled their spots on the roster by signing linebackers David Anenih and Wyatt Ray.