Miami Dolphins Make Strategic Moves, Re-Signing Ogbah and Activating Phillips
In a decisive move that demonstrates their confidence in his recovery, the Miami Dolphins have officially re-signed defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, a decision made following the retirement of Shaquil Barrett. This re-signing comes at a crucial time for the team as they gear up for the upcoming NFL season.
The Dolphins are also celebrating another key development: the activation of Jaelan Phillips from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, just nine months after a traumatic Achilles tear. At 24 years old, Phillips was on the brink of a breakout season before suffering the injury in Week 12 of the 2023 NFL campaign.
"It's just taught me a lot of patience. Your body is going to be ready when your body is ready, so I've just been doing everything humanly possible to give my body what it needs and take the time to get after it,” Phillips said, reflecting on his arduous recovery process.
The commendable work of the Dolphins' training and strength staff played a pivotal role in Phillips' impressive return, as they dedicated themselves to his rehabilitation over the past several months. "I have such a good training staff here and such a good strength staff, and we've been working our asses off for eight-and-a-half months now. I just, like I said, feel very fortunate to be back out here doing what I love again,” Phillips added.
Phillips took exactly nine months to recover from his Achilles tear, a timeline that aligns with the typical nine to twelve months required for NFL players to rehabilitate from such an injury. Throughout this period, Phillips sought guidance from several NFL players who had endured similar setbacks. "I checked in with him, he's checked in with me throughout the process. His situation is a little different than mine, it's kind of not really comparable in that sense. Shaq [Barrett] was somebody I talked to, I talked to Kirk [Cousins], but again another quarterback, it's kind of a different situation. Vince Biegel is a guy who I played with. He did his Achilles a couple of times. Cam Akers when I was back in LA doing my rehab, he was there as well,” Phillips recalled.
His decision to consult with other players who had faced similar challenges provided him with reassurance and confidence. "I've just been picking people's brains and kind of the main takeaway I've gotten from everybody is that they feel 100%. They don't feel like they had to miss a step or whether it's a year or two years afterwards, they don't feel there is an injury there. That just definitely reassured me, like I said, the more I've been able to do, the less I've been thinking about the Achilles and the more I've been building confidence. It feels great.”
Phillips' return to the active roster could not have come at a better time, as keeping him on the PUP list during the final roster cuts in late August would have resulted in him missing at least four games. His activation underscores the significant progress he has made and the team's clinical decision-making.
In other developments within the Dolphins' roster, Bradley Chubb is in the process of recovering from an ACL tear he sustained in Week 17. Furthermore, defensive lineman Christian Wilkins has moved to the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent, signaling a period of transition and adjustment for the Dolphins' defensive unit.
Jaelan Phillips, who was drafted 18th overall in 2021, has already amassed a total of 22 sacks and 24 tackles for loss over three NFL seasons, illustrating his impact on the field. Reflecting on his journey, Phillips shared a poignant moment from his recovery: "Probably the highest I've been in my NFL career, and then to be humbled just like that, it was devastating. But right when that happened, I remembered going to the shower and I was crying. I just told myself, like 'This is OK. I'm going to attack this. I'm going to get over this and this is going to make me stronger at the end of the day.' I really thanked God. I really said thank you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, because I know it's going to make me a monster.”
As Phillips gears up to return to gameplay, he is poised to continue striving for excellence, further solidifying his role as a pivotal figure in the Dolphins' defense. The team's faith in his recovery and the strategic moves made in the offseason will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping their upcoming season.