In a decisive move that underscores their confidence in his recovery, the Miami Dolphins have re-signed Emmanuel Ogbah following Shaquil Barrett's retirement. This strategic decision is part of a broader plan as the team also celebrates the remarkable comeback of Jaelan Phillips.
Jaelan Phillips' Remarkable Recovery
Phillips, a 24-year-old defensive end, has been activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list just nine months after suffering a devastating Achilles tear. The injury, which occurred in Week 12 of the 2023 NFL season, abruptly halted what was shaping up to be a breakout campaign for the young player. Yet, Phillips' resilience and determination throughout his rehabilitation have been truly inspiring.
"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 reflected on his journey back to the field.
The Dolphins' training and strength staff played a pivotal role in Phillips’ recovery. Their relentless effort over the past nine months has been vital to his accelerated return. Phillips acknowledged this support, stating, "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."
The Path to Recovery
Typical recovery for an Achilles tear in NFL players ranges from nine to twelve months. Phillips leveraged advice from several NFL peers who had navigated similar injuries, which bolstered his mental and emotional resilience. "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 detailed.
Determined to approach his recovery with the right mindset, Phillips drew invaluable insights from these interactions. "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."
Looking to the Future
Phillips' activation from the PUP list comes just in time, as he would have missed at least four games if placed on the list during the final roster cuts in late August. His presence is crucial, especially with defensive stalwart Bradley Chubb in the process of recovering from an ACL tear sustained in Week 17 and the departure of Christian Wilkins, who has moved to the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent.
Drafted 18th overall in 2021, Phillips has already demonstrated his potential with a total of 22 sacks and 24 tackles for loss over his three NFL seasons. He has his sights set on further solidifying his role as a pivotal figure in the Dolphins' defense. Reflecting on his journey, Phillips recounted a moment of vulnerability and determination: "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 prepares to make his return to gameplay, his journey of resilience and recovery serves as an inspiring testament to his character and determination. His comeback is not just a personal victory but a significant boost for the Miami Dolphins as they look to fortify their defense and make a strong push in the upcoming season.