Jaelan Phillips: Injury history| Trade details| Achilles| College| Injury

Introduction

Jaelan Phillips, an edge rusher who entered the NFL with high expectations, has had a roller-coaster journey laden with promise, college interruptions, major injuries (including an Achilles tear), and now a trade that signals a new chapter. This article dives deep into his injury history, the trade details, his college background, the Achilles injury, and what it all might mean moving forward.

College Career: The Foundation & Setbacks

Phillips’ college path was non-linear,  illuminating for understanding his resilience.

UCLA Bruins & Early Promise

• Phillips started his college career at UCLA Bruins. As a true freshman in 2017, he played in seven games and posted 21 tackles (7 for loss), 2 pass deflections and 3.5 sacks.

• In 2018 he played only four games as his season was cut short by a concussion.

• A weird twist: he was involved in a motor scooter accident (being hit by a car) while at UCLA and ended up medically retiring from football in December 2018.

Transfer to the University of Miami & Revival

• After retiring, Phillips enrolled at Los Angeles City College then transferred to the Miami Hurricanes (University of Miami) in 2019 with the intent to resume football.

• He sat out 2019 due to NCAA transfer rules, but in 2020 he started and recorded 45 tackles, eight sacks and one interception. He earned second-team All-American and All-ACC honours.

• In 2022, his final college season, he put up 61 tackles (37 solo), seven sacks, two passes defended and one forced fumble.

Key Takeaways From College

• Despite significant interruptions (concussion, scooter accident, medical retirement), Phillips showed high upside when healthy.

• His physical attributes (6-5, 263 lbs) combined with motor and pass-rush ability made him an appealing prospect.

• The college setbacks foreshadowed a pattern of injury risk, which becomes relevant in his NFL career.

Injury History: Roadblocks & Resilience

Phillips’ injury timeline is a major part of his story. Below is a detailed look.

Early College Injuries

• Concussion in 2018 limited his UCLA season.

• Scooter accident (non-football) effectively took him out of football for a time.

NFL Injury Timeline

• In the 2023 season (with the Miami Dolphins), Phillips suffered a non-contact right Achilles tendon tear in Week 12 (Black Friday game vs. the New York Jets).

• The Achilles injury cut short what was shaping up to be a breakout year — he had 6.5 sacks in only eight games before the injury.

• Then in 2024, he suffered a knee injury (torn ACL) just four games into the season, again ending his year prematurely.

• According to injury-monitoring sites, his recovery was flagged as extensive — torn Achilles, reconstructive knee surgery, etc.

Why It Matters

• The combination of major lower-body injuries (Achilles + ACL) is particularly concerning for an edge rusher whose game relies on bursts, change of direction and power.

• For teams evaluating him: durability becomes a key question mark.

• For Phillips: his mental resilience and ability to bounce back become defining traits in the narrative.

Trade Details & What It Means

A significant recent development in Phillips’ career is his trade.

Trade to the Philadelphia Eagles

• On November 3, 2025, the Philadelphia Eagles acquired Phillips from the Dolphins in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick.

• The trade reportedly involved the Dolphins converting a big chunk of Phillips’ remaining base salary into a signing bonus, so the Eagles assume a smaller cap hit for the remainder of the season.

• The move reunites Phillips with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who was his coordinator in Miami in 2023.

Assessment of the Trade

• For the Eagles: It’s a relatively low-cost move to bolster a pass rush unit that was underperforming. The upside is high if Phillips returns to form.

• For the Dolphins: Given their roster transition, letting Phillips go puts a question mark on their edge rush going forward but also recoups draft capital.

• For Phillips: He gets a fresh start in a defence he knows (via Fangio) and in a winning-oriented environment — but the injury history looms large. Jaelan Phillips injury history.

Achilles Injury: The Turning Point

The ruptured Achilles in 2023 stands out as a major pivot point in Phillips’ career trajectory.

The Injury Event

• Against the New York Jets on Black Friday Week 12, Phillips suffered a non-contact Achilles tendon tear.

• At the time he had recorded 43 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 8 games — on pace for career bests.

Impact on Physical & Career Outlook

• Achilles injuries are among the more serious for explosive athletes; recovery timelines vary and full return to pre-injury explosiveness is not guaranteed.

• In his case, the timing disrupted momentum from a breakout year, and the next season he followed with a knee ACL injury — compounding concerns.

• For the Eagles acquiring him: the Achilles injury is part of the risk-reward calculus.

Recovery & Outlook

• Recovery from Achilles often takes 9-12 months or more for elite athletes; the fact that Phillips returned to play (albeit limited) underscores his work ethic.

• But in the context of evaluating his future production, the Achilles injury ticks a risk box for sustained output. Jaelan Phillips injury history.

Projection: What’s Next for Jaelan Phillips?

Given the background above, what can we expect from Phillips going forward?

Short-Term Outlook

• At his new team (Eagles), expect him to have an adjustment period — both returning from injury and adapting to a new scheme and teammates.

• Health will be the primary watch-item: snap count, bursts, ability to sustain play across a full season.

Long-Term Potential

• If healthy, he has shown the pass-rush traits (sack production, disruption) that make him a potential high-impact player.

• The trade cost (3rd-round pick) indicates teams still believe in his upside despite the injury history.

• A full healthy season would significantly boost his value heading into free agency.

Risks

• Re-injury or below-pre-injury explosiveness.

• Durability concerns raising questions about long-term investment.

• Scheme fit and utilisation: he must translate his college and early-NFL flashes into sustained production. Jaelan Phillips injury history.

FAQs

Q1: What injuries has Jaelan Phillips had?
A: Major ones include a non-contact Achilles tendon tear in Week 12 of the 2023 season. He also suffered a knee injury (torn ACL) early in the 2024 season. Earlier in college he had a concussion and a scooter accident which caused him to medically retire temporarily.

Q2: How did the trade involving Phillips work?
A: On November 3, 2025, the Philadelphia Eagles acquired Jaelan Phillips from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2026 third-round draft pick. Miami converted much of his remaining salary into a bonus so the Eagles assume less cap hit.

Q3: How was his college career before the NFL?
A: Phillips began at UCLA, had early injuries and academic/medical setbacks, then transferred to Miami. At Miami he produced strong stats (45 tackles and eight sacks in 2020; 61 tackles and seven sacks in 2022).

Q4: How many sacks has he had in the NFL?
A: According to his Wikipedia profile, as of his tenure with the Dolphins, he recorded 26 sacks in 55 games.

Q5: What is his outlook with the Eagles?
A: He joins a defence in need of edge rush help; if healthy, he has high upside given prior production and scheme familiarity. But the key will be returning to full form and sustaining health over a full season. Jaelan Phillips injury history.

Conclusion

Jaelan Phillips’ story is one of promise, setbacks, and potential resurgence. From college transfers and a medical retirement to major injuries in the NFL, he’s faced more adversity than many. Yet his trade to the Eagles signals that teams believe his best days still lie ahead. If he can stay healthy and regain his pass-rush form, he could become a significant contributor—and perhaps vindicate the risk taken on him. For fans and analysts alike, his journey is worth watching closely.