The Miami Dolphins provided some major injury updates on Saturday. Linebacker Jaelan Phillips has a torn Achilles, coach Mike McDaniel confirmed. Additionally, offensive tackle Terron Armstead is considered week-to-week with a quad injury. Both injuries occurred during Miami’s 34-13 victory over the New York Jets on Friday.
Dolphins LB Jaelan Phillips suffered a torn Achilles, HC Mike McDaniel confirms.
LT Terron Armstead is week-to-week with a quad injury.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) November 25, 2023
The injuries were a blemish on what was an otherwise successful victory over a division rival for the Dolphins. Miami moved to 8-3 on the season with the win and is in the driver’s seat in the AFC East heading into a relatively easy section of its schedule, on paper at least.
Miami’s next three opponents — the Washington Commanders, Tennessee Titans and Jets — are all below .500 this season.
With Phillips out for the remainder of the season, the Dolphins will have to adjust defensively, and they could look for some external help. Miami has some interest in Derek Barnett, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The Philadelphia Eagles waived Barnett this week, and he’s now free to sign elsewhere.
Dolphins have some interest in former Eagles first rounder Derek Barnett, per a league source. He's available now in free agency. Has 21.5 sacks & 37 tackles for loss in 7 seasons. Can play outside LB in 3-4. Around Fangio with Eagles in '22 before season ended in opener with ACL
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) November 25, 2023
The Eagles drafted Barnett in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he appeared in 73 regular season games and recorded 150 combined tackles for the team prior to being waived. If signed, he’d bring some experience to the Dolphins on defense.
Additionally, Emmanuel Ogbah and Andrew Van Ginkel will likely see more time out on the field, and they’re both ready for the challenge.
“We’re definitely, for sure, going to miss him,” Ogbah said of Phillips. “He’s definitely a big part of our defense. He’s a grinder, he’s a hard worker. It’s definitely frustrating that this happened, but injuries are part of the game and you have to have a next man up mentality.”
Van Ginkel echoed Ogbah’s sentiment.
“Next man up,” Van Ginkel said. “I’m going to do my best to help this team and I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Phillips sustained the injury while trying to explode off of his right foot when the ball was snapped for a play during the fourth quarter. He quickly fell to the ground and was ultimately placed on a cart in order to be taken off the field. He was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the game.
The injury was noncontact, and some of Phillips’ teammates directed blame at the turf field at MetLife Stadium.
“I don’t know the statistics or anything like that, but I do know turf does increase the chance of getting hurt,” safety Jevon Holland said. “That field is trash.”
Running back Raheem Mostert called for the NFL to take action against turf fields.
“We’ve got to do something about this turf and this playing surface,” Mostert said, “because obviously it’s still a major problem, even with trying to figure out what we can do. But I don’t know, it just has to change.”
Unfortunately, Phillips isn’t the first player to get hurt on turf, and he likely won’t be the last. The Dolphins can’t afford to dwell on the situation, however, as they still have a whole lot of football left to play on the season.
Though their next three opponents are all below .500, their final three games come against potential playoff teams in the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills.
Miami hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2000 season, and many fans in South Florida are thinking that this could finally be the year. However, before the Dolphins can even start to think about the playoffs, they have to get through the rest of their regular season schedule and hope to avoid any other major injuries in the process.
