Dolphins Stock Report (Day 15): Jaelan Phillips ramping up practice with contact drills
Fin fans rejoice: Jaelan Phillips participated in drills with contact.
Two days removed from being activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, Phillips played several downs in 11-on-11 drills on Wednesday.
Even better: the fourth-year outside linebacker looked like a game wrecker, chasing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out the pocket on a least play and forcing De’Von Achane inside for a short gain after properly setting the edge, a necessity with the host of speedsters on the Dolphins offense.
The University of Miami product’s performance even earned him the praise of coach Mike McDaniel.
“This is a guy who is on a mission that’s bigger than just being a player on a NFL football team,” McDaniel said, calling Phillips a player who wants to be considered the “top of his class.” “He’s in a great place and he’s taking steps every day.”
Chop Robinson agrees.
“Having him on the field is just insane,” Robinson said. “Seeing how big he is and how good he can move. You know watching him on TV — cause I’ve been watching him since he was in college — and being on the field with him and seeing how aggressive he is, it’s just different. Off-the-field, he’s a mentor to me.”
Phillips tore his Achilles in a blowout win against the New York Jets in late November. And while it hasn’t been the easiest process to return, the Dolphins brass exercised their faith in him when they picked up his fifth year option in the spring.
TOP PERFORMER
Stock Up
Chop Robinson had yet another great day of practice. In the first run of 11-on-11, the Penn State rusher tackled Achane in the backfield for a loss.
During the walk through period of 11-on-11, he read a wide receiver screen perfectly and would’ve recorded a tackle for loss if the play was actually live.
It’s clear Robinson’s handle on the playbook has improved tremendously since day one of training camp.
“It’s just muscle memory from working on it every day and applying it to the game,” Robinson said of blowing up the screen play.
Robinson, who did not suit up for the Dolphins’ preseason opener, expects to play on Saturday against the Washington Commanders.
With injuries across the secondary, cornerback Isaiah Johnson saw quite a few starter reps.
Johnson did not disappoint.
The highlight: back-to-back pass breakups during the red zone portion of 11-on-11.
Stock Down
If the Dolphins decide to keep six receivers, Washington will have to battle with Erik Ezukanma, Anthony Schwartz, Braylon Sanders and Willie Snead IV for the final spot.
Washington, however, didn’t have the best practice today. During the early practice sessions, the sixth-round pick dropped a pass on an out route that hit his hands. A short time later, he struggled to track a deep ball that fell straight to the turf.
During 11-on-11s, he did make up for that drop by catching that same five-yard out route. He unfortunately followed that up with two catches for no gain, a reception for very little yards and another drop – though Tagovailoa placed the ball a bit behind him.
Mike White has been slotted as the No. 2 quarterback from the beginning of preseason.
And while the order of the quarterbacks in practice cannot be identified, it’s certainly noteworthy the players who White was paired with versus Thompson. That said, White also didn’t do himself any favors during his time at the helm of the offense.
Although the majority of the play calls were runs, most of the few passes that White threw during 11-on-11s fell incomplete. A few throws happened to be dropped – definitely not White’s fault – but one was overthrown and another – a swing route to Washington – went for no gain.
TAKEAWAY
After a Pro Football Talk report stated that the NFL officials will focus more “cheat motion,” it turns out that might not actually be the case.
Dolphins reporters met with officials today and cleared up everything. Apparently, there was neither a rule change nor a point of emphasis on the motion.
The South Florida media met with officials about rule changes for 2024 and they clarified there’s no rule change and no point of emphasis on the motion this season.
WHAT THEY SAID
“This is one to the most competitive camps I’ve ever been a part of,” fullback Alec Ingold told reporters after Wednesday’s practice. “Nine times out of 10, at this time of the year, it’s usually the offense beating the defense or the defense beating the offense. Right now, it’s going back and forth.”
This story was originally published August 14, 2024 at 4:20 PM.
