The Dolphins prefer pundits to be patient with first-round pick Kenneth Grant, who has had a quiet start to his NFL career.
But patience also is warranted with veteran linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who spoke this week of the challenges of returning to football after sustaining a torn Achilles and torn ACL in consecutive seasons.
Phillips is not looking for sympathy or making excuses to explain the team’s defensive deficiencies, the front seven’s trouble stopping the run or why he’s still looking for his first sack and tackle for loss after producing 23 sacks and 25 tackles for loss in his first 46 NFL games.
He says flatly “I don’t think I’m excellent in any area right now” and “I’m not where I want to be.”
But grace also is needed, considering the severity of his injuries.
“Obviously, I want to have three sacks and two forced fumbles in every game,” he said at his locker this week. “But I have to be patient with myself and understand I’m still warming up in a sense of two back-to-back season-ending injuries. I haven’t played a ton of football the last couple years. I feel like I’m getting into my stride a little bit, trying to improve on different aspects of my game. I’m definitely not where I want to be. But I feel like I’m making some progress.”
Does his body feel any different from how he felt before the November 2023 torn Achilles (against the Jets) and the September 2024 torn ACL (against the Titans)?
“I feel great,” he said. “It’s more so game flow, instincts, playing free, playing confidently. That’s an underrated aspect. You can be in the best physical shape of your life, but there’s a lot that goes on with eyes, technique, and things like that. That’s kind of the biggest thing for me right now.”
Is he close to gaining that back? “Yeah, I hope so,” he said. “At some point during the season I’ll get back to my true form.”
Phillips — who has 11 tackles and a fumble recovery in four games this season — had 8.5 and 7.0 sacks in his two fully healthy seasons, which were the first two of his career (2021 and 2022).
Asked what’s most difficult to get back after those injuries - among pass rushing, run defending and pass coverage — he said: “I think it’s equally tough in a sense. It’s all technique based. For me, personally, there are areas to improve in the run game, pass game, really all facets. I don’t think I’m excellent in any area right now.”
Miami is allowing 29.5 points per game, which is seventh worst in the league.
“I feel like as a defense, we need to do a better job of getting into those third-and-long situations where we can let it loose on pass rush,” Phillips said.
Phillips, who is earning $13.2 million this season while playing on a fifth-year option, will be an unrestricted free agent in March unless he signs an extension before. He said the contract issue is not weighing on him.
“What’s most important is me,” he said, is “contributing to the team and getting better every week.”
Injury report
The Dolphins listed cornerback Storm Duck (ankle) and receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (knee) as out for Sunday’s game at Carolina (1 p.m., WSVN Fox 7). Mike McDaniel said Duck is “week to week.”
All other Dolphins players on the 53-man roster are available for the game.
▪ How much will the Dolphins’ offense change following Tyreek Hill’s season-ending injury?
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) reacts after tight end Darren Waller (83) scores his second touchdown against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. PHOTO BY DAVID SANTIAGO dsantiago@miamiherald.com
“The offense for the most part will stay the same,” backup quarterback Zach Wilson said. “I’m more curious to see what happens on the other side of the ball, see how defenses change, how they play us, not having his speed [opposite Jaylen] Waddle. Offensively, as far as our core principles go, we are going to stay the same and play the way we know how to play and see how they react.”
Could there be more designed roll outs and run/pass options?
“What Tua does well, I think Mike is going to keep trying to do that for him,” Wilson said.