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Dolphins' Jaelan Phillips Out for Season After Suffering Achilles Injury vs. Jets

Francisco Rosa

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 24: Jaelan Phillips #15 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates after making a defensive stop against the New York Jets during the first quarter in the game at MetLife Stadium on November 24, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips will miss the remainder of the 2023 season with a torn Achilles, head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Saturday.

Phillips indicated the severity of the injury Friday night, saying he was "devastated" after being carted off the field.

Jaelan Phillips ;🕴🏾® @JJPhillips15

Absolutely devastated, but I feel strength in knowing that this is all a part of God's plan, and that I have an incredible team and support system around me. I'll be back stronger than ever 💪🏽 Fins up 🐬🙏🏾

Phillips, 24, suffered what appeared to be a non-contact injury toward the beginning of the fourth quarter.

The 2021 first-round pick was in clear pain as he was carted away.

Phillips was in the midst of one of his best games of the season, recording four tackles, a sack and a tipped pass, smothering Jets' starter Tim Boyle throughout the afternoon.

He had 5.5 sacks coming into Friday's matchup and was on pace to set a career-high mark—surpassing the 8.5 he recorded as a rookie in 2021. He also amassed 29 total tackles and an interception.

Ever since joining the Dolphins, Phillips has become a key cog in Miami's pass rush unit along with Bradley Chubb, Christian Wilkins and Andrew Van Ginkel.

And despite having a number of injury issues while in college, Phillips has managed to stay healthy in the professional ranks, playing in all 17 games in each of his first two seasons.

While in college, Phillips had to medically retire following his first two seasons at UCLA due to sustaining several concussions and other injuries. He ultimately got healthy and wound up transferring to the University of Miami before becoming a first-round pick.

He'll be a huge absence for Miami down the stretch.