As the saying goes, “When it rains, it pours.” The Miami Dolphins are certainly getting poured on. After losing Tua Tagovailoa to a concussion in Week 2, the team was hit hard on defense with the loss of star linebacker Jaelan Phillips.
Phillips announced he suffered a season-ending knee injury that would require reconstructive surgery. This is the second consecutive season-ending injury for Phillips, as he also suffered a torn Achilles in 2023.
Losing Phillips will be tough for the Dolphins defense. The young linebacker put up 6.5 sacks in 2023 before the Achilles injury, and he was equally as disruptive in 2024. Phillips had a sack, one tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits in limited time.
CINCINNATI, OHIO – JANUARY 15: Linebacker Tyus Bowser #54 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals who rushed for a first down during the AFC Wild Card playoff game… More Rob Carr/Getty Images
The Dolphins were bringing Phillips along slowly at the beginning of the season, even after he healed in nine months from his torn Achilles. However, he is now lost for the season.
To make up for the loss of Phillips, the Dolphins have signed for Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyus Bowser.
According to Miami Herald columnist Omar Kelly, “Pass rusher Jaelan Phillips on the reserve/injured list and signed linebacker Tyus Bowser to the active roster from Seattle’s practice squad.”
Instead of the Dolphins signing Bowser to the practice squad, he is immediately added to the active roster. This means he is set to start in Week 5.
Bowser comes off the practice squad of the Seahawks. Interestingly, Bowser was activated when Seattle trounced the Dolphins in Week 2, 24-3.
Now, Bowser will have a chance to continue his quarterback-terrorizing ways with the Dolphins. Before joining the Seahawks, the veteran linebacker was a force on the Ravens’ defense.
Bowser was drafted by the Ravens No. 47 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Houston. Bowser had a respectable rookie season, securing three sacks, one interception, and 11 total tackles.
Bowser would only get better with each passing season. His most successful season came in 2021 when he brought in seven sacks, 59 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.
The hope is that Bowser can return to proper form with the Dolphins. He missed all of the 2023 season after suffering a knee injury and re-aggravating that injury before the season began. He was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.
Bowser was released by the Ravens in March 2024, and signed by the Seahawks in Aug.
The Dolphins will eventually get back Bradley Chubb, but he is not yet set to return. Bowser can help the defense tremendously if he can become something close to what he was in 2021.