Jul 29, 2024; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips (15) looks on during training camp at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Jaelan Phillips was back on the Miami Dolphins’ practice field Monday for the first time since suffering an Achilles tear in November of last season. It’s an impressive turnaround from an injury that typically sidelines players for around a full year.
And even though Dolphins trainers and coaches are easing Phillips back into things slowly, he’s embraced the patience required to get back to 100 percent without setbacks. With his return to full speed closer than ever, Phillips reflected on the tough journey he’s gone through so far in his rehab.
“Right when [the injury] happened, I remembered going to the shower and I was crying,” Phillips told reporters Monday. “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. So yeah, it’s been a hell of a journey just having to test my patience.”
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel complimented Phillips on the way he’s approached the rehab, as it would’ve been easy for a highly motivated player to push too hard.
“It is a long-vision challenge to attack this injury appropriately,” McDaniel said Monday. “That’s not something, by nature, that is totally his speed. He wants to fix the issue and go play.
“So to watch him diligently go about the process — I thought he was going to be a No. 1 violator of secretly overdoing what he was supposed to do. To be patient and to have the vision for his teammates, really — we’re all relying upon him coming back and him being able to, first find his footing from a health perspective, and then to help this team — I’ve been very proud of how he’s attacked that.”
Still, Phillips isn’t completely out of the woods yet. He’s back on the practice field, but has to fight the temptation to do too much as his reps slowly — sometimes painfully slowly — get ramped back up.
“It was a tease – I need more,” Phillips said with a laugh after his first practice back. “I’m patient and I trust the trainers, I trust my coaches and at the end of the day, I trust myself too. I’ll be honest with them about how I’m feeling, and I know that they’ll take care of me. … Mike [McDaniel] said it perfectly, I’m like my biggest enemy when it comes to trying to get back just because I’m so eager to be playing and be back out there with my guys. But yeah, it will all happen on its natural course.”