Dolphins set to ink vet DE Jason Pierre-Paul in the wake of season-ending Achilles injury to Jaelan Phillips

The Miami Dolphins are on a remarkable streak this season. Despite a setback against the Kansas City Chiefs, they’ve rallied with two consecutive victories. Following a win against the Las Vegas Raiders, they dominated the New York Jets by securing a 34-13 record in Week 12.

However, the huge win came with tension regarding quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s nasty gash. Apart from this, another major blow hit the Dolphins team hard as they lost linebacker Jaelan Phillips for the season. To fill his void, they have decided to enroll Jason Pierre-Paul in their squad.

Dolphins expected to sign vet DE Jason Pierre-Paul

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport earlier reported that the Dolphins were expected to sign Jason Pierre-Paul to their practice squad.

Jason, a South Florida native, later confirmed the deal on his Instagram account on Monday night, writing, “I’M COMING HOME”. The 34-year-old star signed with the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 16, and thanked the team as well following his deal with the Dolphins.

“I would like to thank the New Orleans Saints and the organization for giving me the opportunity to play for them. I can’t even lie it was a hard decision to make, to all the guys in the locker room. I appreciate y’all accepting me as a teammate, and to all the coaches appreciate you guys for believing in me,” he wrote via ABC News.

The veteran holds a record of 631 tackles and 94.5 total sacks, along with 21 forced fumbles and 10 fumbles recovered throughout his NFL career. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Before signing Jason Pierre-Paul, the Dolphins were reportedly eyeing acquiring former Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Derek Burnett off waivers. However, the move didn’t result in success, as the Houston Texans claimed him before them.

How did Jaelan Phillips suffer a season-ending Achilles injury?

During the fourth quarter of the Dolphins vs. Jets’ clash, Phillips sustained a leg injury on the turf. The edge rusher’s injury, occurring without contact, occurred as he collapsed while stepping out of his stance. An MRI later confirmed he suffered a season-ending torn Achilles, confirmed by head coach Mike McDaniel on Saturday.

The Dolphins star took to X to share his distressing state following the blow, saying he was totally “devastated.” Ahead of the Week 12 match, he recorded 39 combined tackles, 5.5 sacks, and four tackles for loss for an interception throughout seven games. After being in such great form, the blow is indeed too heavy, but the vet sounded unwaveringly ready to return to the field “stronger than ever.”

“Absolutely devastated, but I feel strength in knowing that this is all a part of God’s plan, and that I have an incredible team and support system around me. I’ll be back stronger than ever.”

Miami safety Jevon Holland, who also sustained a gruesome injury at the stadium, didn’t shy away while bluntly labeling the stadium’s turf as “trash” following his teammate’s distressing season-ending injury. The infamous MetLife Stadium’s turf continues to spark controversy and concern among players due to its potential role in severe player injuries.

From Aaron Rodgers to Jimmy Garoppolo to Nick Bosa, many elite players have been victims of the stadium’s notorious turf throughout the last few years. A-Rod is still recovering from his torn Achilles, although he reached out to the Dolphins star to back him up amid this horrible experience.

What’s your take on the Dolphins’ recent acquisition? Tell us in the comments.