On Monday, the Miami Dolphins return to the practice field with one significant addition from the previous week.

It’s Jaelan Phillips again.

Less than nine months after he suffered a torn Achilles injury in the Black Friday victory over the New York Jets, head coach Mike McDaniel announced during practice that Phillips would be activated off the physically unable to perform list.

The Dolphins may now feel more at ease knowing that Phillips will be available for the start of the regular season, even though he probably won’t put in much work in his first few days and may not play in the last two preseason games.

“For me, what I got to learn about Jalen Phillips is that he’s a very capable, strong learner because this was a test of internal fortitude coming at Jalen,” McDaniel stated. “He has always had an impact, but he was correct when he said that, after his injury, momentum was beginning to turn in favour of his belief in how to play the position. He was experiencing a distinct degree of confidence, especially for a guy who shares his aspirations. He wants to be the best, but attacking this injury in the right way will need long-term planning and is not something that comes naturally to him. He wants to go play after solving the problem.

“Observing him methodically go through the process, I assumed he would be the top offender for covertly exceeding his assigned tasks. We all depend on him returning and being able to first regain his health and then be able to contribute to this club. He needs to be patient and have the best interests of his teammates in mind. His attack on that has made me extremely proud, and he’s done things that leaders do well too—you can sense his presence as a teammate.”

The Dolphins will also be welcoming back wide receiver Erik Ezukanma, who missed the entire previous week due to an unidentified injury, in addition to Phillips. The 2022 fourth-round pick, who missed the majority of the previous season due to a neck ailment, is vying for a position on the roster.

OTHER INJURY UPDATES

Additionally, according to McDaniel, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. should be treated on a week-to-week basis and isn’t nearly ready to return off injured reserve alongside Phillips.

tense conclusion Tanner Conner’s injury from the 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the preseason opener will also prevent him from practicing for the next few days.

In addition to Beckham and offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn, Bradley Chubb, Phillips’ opposite on the other side of the defence line (or edge, if you like), is still on PUP.

Neither Chubb nor Wynn have an estimated time of arrival, and Chubb, at least, has always felt that his recuperation will take longer than Phillips’.