MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins pass rusher Jaelan Phillips announced Wednesday that he has again suffered a season-ending injury, a massive body blow to both the player and the team.
Phillips was just four games into his return from a torn Achilles that ended his 2023 season when he got hurt Monday against the Tennessee Titans.
The former first-round pick will enter his contract year rehabbing a significant injury. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel classified Phillips’ injury as “a partial tear” to his ACL.
He got hurt during a collision with teammate Jordan Poyer, who hurt his shin on the play.
Jaelen Phillips’ Injury the Latest Blow to Dolphins
The Phillips development is another setback in what has been a trying first month for the Dolphins.
They have lost their starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, for at least four games with a concussion.
And they’ll be without pass rusher Bradley Chubb for at least another week as he recovers from a knee injury of his own.
That means a bigger role in Week 5 for Chop Robinson and Quinton Bell, and perhaps the NFL debut of Mohamed Kamara.
News from Jaelan Phillips pic.twitter.com/TmH3s3IWQt
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) October 2, 2024
Should Phillips Have Returned to MNF After Initial Injury?
Phillips’ diagnosis raises questions about whether the Dolphins’ medical staff should have stopped him from returning to Monday’s game after hurting the knee the first time.
He was allowed to re-enter after suffering what Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on Wednesday deemed a “contact injury.”
Team doctors knew that Phillips had instability after that initial hit but believed he would suffer no further damage to the knee by playing through it. They ultimately took him out of the game when the knee didn’t respond as he needed.
Imaging later revealed a partial tear, and the decision was made that it was in his best long-term interests to get it ligament fully repaired as opposed to letting him play through it with a brace, and risk tearing it completely.
McDaniel remarked on the decision to let him re-enter the game during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon:
“Jaelan Phillips has been through a lot of watching football and the testing that’s in place is absolutely as good as I’ve been around, so you’re making gut decisions based upon how the body is feeling,” said McDaniel.
“You’re going through your various tests with the muscles and the joints, and then you have to allow guys the opportunity to be honest with you.
“So his response through adrenaline was what a competitor would be and there thankfully wasn’t enough issues at hand to be able to hold him out with integrity, but that is something that you’re – it’s one of the reasons why we focus on building those relationships so that each party can trust one another.”
