The Miami Dolphins' pass rush should get some added juice in the very near future. According to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques, the Dolphins are taking edge rusher Jaelan Phillips off the active/players unable to perform list, indicating he could be ready for the regular season.
The Dolphins are taking LB Jaelan Phillips off the PUP list today -- he's back
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) August 12, 2024
Phillips tore his Achilles in the Dolphins' 34-13 win over the New York Jets on Black Friday last season. He has been seen training and rehabbing at Dolphins practices throughout the offseason, but he'll be allowed to participate in drills and teamwork from now on. He now appears on pace to play in Week 1.
The Dolphins drafted Phillips 18th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft in part due to his staggering pro day performance. He appeared well on his way to a career season in 2023, with 6.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss through eight games.
Entering the fourth year of his rookie deal, 2024 is the perfect time for Phillips to put together a breakout season. The Dolphins will need him to carry a huge load at edge rusher: Bradley Chubb is still recovering from a late-season ACL tear, and free agent addition Shaq Barrett suddenly retired ahead of training camp.
The Dolphins open the season with a critical AFC showdown with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and they follow it up with an even more crucial AFC East battle with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football in Week 2. Phillips' return is good news, but the Dolphins will need much more help on the defensive front to avoid falling into an early-season hole. Hopefully, they've got more good news coming.
Photo Credit: © Jim Rassol / USA TODAY NETWORK
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