In a significant move that underscores their confidence in his recovery, the Miami Dolphins have re-signed Emmanuel Ogbah following Shaquil Barrett's retirement. Emmanuel Ogbah has been a stalwart for the Dolphins, and the team's decision to bring him back reflects their trust in his continued contributions to their defensive unit. The re-signing comes at a time of great transition and hope for the Dolphins, particularly due to the return of another key player.
The Dolphins are celebrating the activation of Jaelan Phillips from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, just nine months after a devastating Achilles tear. This marks a pivotal moment for Phillips, who was on course for a breakout season before his injury in Week 12 of the 2023 NFL campaign. The 24-year-old defensive end has shown remarkable resilience and determination during his recovery.
Jaelan Phillips was drafted 18th overall in 2021, and over three NFL seasons, he has accumulated a total of 22 sacks and 24 tackles for loss. His performance had been steadily improving, and prior to his injury, he was arguably at his highest point in his NFL career. "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,'" Phillips shared.
The road to recovery has not been easy, but Phillips had the unwavering support of the Dolphins' training and strength staff, who played a crucial role in his rehabilitation. "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," Phillips said. "I just, like I said, feel very fortunate to be back out here doing what I love again.”
NFL players typically require between nine to twelve months to rehabilitate from an Achilles tear, and Phillips’ speedy recovery is a testament to his hard work and the support around him. During these nine months, Phillips sought advice from several NFL players who had undergone similar injuries. "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 commented.
The timing of Phillips’ activation is also critical. By being activated now, he avoids missing at least four games, which would have been the case if he stayed on the PUP list during the final roster cuts in late August. This early return ensures that Phillips can contribute to the team's defensive efforts right from the outset of the season.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins face another challenge on the injury front. Bradley Chubb is in the process of recovering from an ACL tear he sustained in Week 17, adding pressure on the remaining defensive squad to perform. The departure of Christian Wilkins to the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent also leaves a significant gap.
Despite these hurdles, Phillips remains optimistic and focused on his path forward. “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,” he said.
The mental aspect of Phillips’ recovery has been as crucial as the physical. “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,” he added.
As Phillips gears up to return to gameplay, he does so with a renewed sense of determination and strength. His journey is a testament to resilience and the effectiveness of the rehabilitation program facilitated by the Dolphins’ trainers. With his eyes set on striving for excellence, Phillips is poised to solidify his role as a pivotal figure in the Dolphins' defense, ready to make a significant impact on the field once again.