Injuries have cast a shadow over what was supposed to be a promising season for the Miami Dolphins, and the unfortunate trend continued on Wednesday with standout linebacker Jaelan Phillips announcing that he will undergo season-ending knee surgery.
Phillips, who had previously suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in 2023, sustained the knee injury during Monday night’s loss to the Tennessee Titans. Despite the setback, he remains optimistic about his recovery and aims to return to the field in 2025. In a statement on social media, Phillips declared, “The mission is still the mission. I have unfinished business to take care of and I will come out of this trail victorious.”
When healthy, Phillips has demonstrated his potential as a former first-round pick, showcasing his skills with impressive sack numbers in each of his seasons. In his rookie year in 2021, he racked up 8.5 sacks despite starting in only five games. The following season, Phillips recorded seven sacks and a career-high 61 tackles, and he continued his strong performance with 6.5 sacks and 43 tackles in just eight games last season.
While Phillips focuses on his recovery, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is set to make his return to practice this week after beginning the season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. A three-time Pro Bowler, Beckham has been dealing with an undisclosed injury and will have 21 days to practice before a decision is made to either activate him or place him on season-ending injured reserve.
In the absence of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Tyler Huntley will make his second consecutive start this Sunday against the New England Patriots. Tagovailoa remains sidelined as he continues to recover from a concussion, leaving Huntley to steer the offense in his place.
With a current record of 1-3 and three consecutive losses, the Dolphins are in desperate need of a win to keep pace with division rivals Buffalo (3-1) and the New York Jets (2-2) in the competitive AFC East standings. Sunday’s matchup against the Patriots will be a crucial test for Miami as they aim to turn their season around amidst a string of setbacks.
