Jaelan Phillips provides immediate update after leaving practice with injury

Some concerning news regarding linebacker Jaelan Phillips emerged from the Miami Dolphins’ practice on Saturday, as the 26-year-old had to leave the field with an injury.

However, Phillips issued a message on X regarding his injury that poured cold water on the idea that it’s anything overly serious. He told folks to calm down and that he’s merely dealing with a bruise.

Phillips’ message on X should have Dolphins fans breathing a sigh of relief, as Miami has already lost plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball compared to a season ago, whether due to poor injury luck or roster changes.

Perhaps the Dolphins’ most notable personnel change on defense is that cornerback Jalen Ramsey is now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers after he spent the last two seasons in Miami. Miami traded him along with tight end Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The deal also included draft capital.

Phillips is hoping that he isn’t in store for another campaign plagued by injuries in the coming season after he was limited to just four games played in the 2024 season. He went down with a partially torn ACL in the team’s Week 4 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

He also suited up in only eight games in the 2023 campaign due to a torn Achilles and has therefore struggled to stay on the field ever since he suited up in 17 games each in his rookie and sophomore campaigns.

Fans can likely expect Phillips to be recuperated from his bruise well before the 2025 season starts up, and with any luck, he will be a consistent presence on the field for Miami in his fifth NFL season. The former first-round draft pick should aim to play in every one of Miami’s 17 games, but even just being available for a large majority of them would be a good step.

The Dolphins are now a little over a month away from opening their season against the Indianapolis Colts on the road.