The Dolphins returned to the practice Monday with some veteran reinforcements. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks, safety Jordan Poyer and outside linebacker Chop Robinson were all back on the field Monday. But the best news of the day was the return of Jaelan Phillips. The fourth-year outside linebacker was activated off the physically unable to perform list and practiced for the first time this season.
Here are the day's highlights:
Practice 13, August 12, 2024
Top Moment
When he went down in the Black Friday win over the Jets, Jaelan Phillips was in the midst of emerging as one of the game's top edge rushers. He and teammate Bradley Chubb combined for the most pressures of any tandem dating back to Chubb's October 2022 arrival with more than 76 coming from Phillips over the 13-month period.
On Monday, Phillips returned to the field for the first time since that fateful day.
"It feels amazing," Phillips said. "I'm just happy to be back out there. It was a little bit of a tease. I'm ready to start hitting some things, but it was great. I'm just so blessed to have my health and be out here running around with the boys."
Phillips' return was the product of tireless work and a commitment to the rehabilitation process. Fans who have attended earlier camp practices could count on No. 15 going through conditioning and individual work as he ramped up to today's activation.
"What I got to learn about Jaelan Phillips is that he is a very capable, strong learner because this was a test of internal fortitude," Head Coach Mike McDaniel said. "Even when he's not playing, he definitely took note – both him and Bradley (Chubb) did – of how Jalen Ramsey attacked his injury last year, and as a result, he's already impacted the 2024 Dolphins before he's set out on the field."
Phillips re-joins an outside linebacker group that has put its best foot forward all camp, and now gets one of the game's best back in the lineup ahead of the start of the regular season.
Top Quote
Monday's practice produced a lot of touchdowns. Granted, most of the practice was spent in the red zone, but Miami's offensive execution was on point. We've seen linear growth all throughout camp, and that's part of the plan.
What do we want our football to look like? How do we want it to feel? How do we want to approach our technique and fundamental? How do we get players adept at the system, the techniques, while also with the long vision of the season? It’s really prioritizing how, when we go, we recreate game-like enthusiasm, focus, attention to detail. That to me is how you create and build and maintain your standard. Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel on the intentions of training camp
More Top Performers
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was on the passing end of all those touchdown passes. That includes a surgical throw to tight end Jonnu Smith in the back of the end zone – just out of reach of defensive back Nik Needham, but within reach of Smith. Tagovailoa also made a handful of scramble plays showing off his ability to create off-script.
The running backs all found pay dirt. Raheem Mostert, De'Von Achane, Chris Brooks and rookie Jaylen Wright had success finding running lanes behind a Miami offensive line that picked up where it left off on Friday night with the 148 rushing yards in that contest.
Social Roundup
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