Miami Dolphins Re-Sign Emmanuel Ogbah, Celebrate Jaelan Phillips' Return from Injury
In a significant move that underscores their confidence in his recovery, the Miami Dolphins have re-signed Emmanuel Ogbah following Shaquil Barrett's retirement. Ogbah's re-signing is not the only exciting news for the team; the Dolphins are also celebrating the activation of Jaelan Phillips from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Just nine months after a devastating Achilles tear, Jaelan Phillips, a 24-year-old defensive end, is set to make his return. Phillips, who was on course for a breakout season before his injury in Week 12 of the 2023 NFL campaign, has shown remarkable resilience in his recovery process.
Reflecting on his challenging journey, Phillips shared, "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.”
The role of the Dolphins’ training and strength staff has been instrumental in Phillips’ comeback. "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 expressed with gratitude.
NFL players typically require between nine to twelve months to rehabilitate from an Achilles tear. Phillips’ recovery has been no exception to this rule. Seeking advice from several NFL players who had experienced similar injuries, Phillips found motivation and reassurance in their stories. "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,” he noted.
The timing of Phillips' activation is crucial for the Dolphins, as he would have missed at least four games had he stayed on the PUP list during the final roster cuts in late August. His return brings a renewed sense of hope and strength to the Dolphins' defensive lineup, particularly with Bradley Chubb still in the process of recovering from an ACL tear he sustained in Week 17.
Since being drafted 18th overall in 2021, Phillips has made a significant impact on the field, accumulating a total of 22 sacks and 24 tackles for loss over three NFL seasons. As he prepares to return to gameplay, Phillips remains focused on striving for excellence and solidifying his role as a pivotal figure in the Dolphins' defense.
Phillips' journey has been one of both physical and mental challenges. He recalled a particularly humbling moment: "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.”
His comeback is not just a personal victory for Phillips but a testament to the effectiveness and dedication of the Dolphins’ training staff. As he continues to build confidence and regain his physical prowess, Phillips shared, "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.”
The Dolphins are optimistic that Phillips' return will bolster their defensive capabilities, especially after the departure of Christian Wilkins, who moved to the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent. With key players like Jaelan Phillips back in action, the Dolphins are poised to tackle the upcoming season with renewed vigor and determination.