Phillips had sustained a partially torn ACL during the Dolphins' home defeat to the Tennessee Titans

The Dolphins were aware that Jaelan Phillips would not be available for their game against the Patriots on Sunday, nor for the remainder of the season. However, the news that Miami reportedly received prior to kickoff at Gillette Stadium must have been disheartening. 

Approximately five hours before the Week 5 clash between the AFC East rivals, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported that Phillips had sustained a partially torn ACL during the Dolphins' home defeat to the Tennessee Titans the previous Monday. This injury necessitates complete ACL reconstruction surgery, and according to Rapoport, Phillips has "a chance" to be ready for the beginning of the next season if everything proceeds as expected. On Wednesday, Phillips issued a statement confirming the season-ending knee injury, although he did not provide specific details regarding the condition. This partially torn ACL represents the second significant injury for Phillips in less than a year, following his Achilles tear in late November 2023.

The initial quarter of Miami's season has indeed been marred by injuries to key players. Tua Tagovailoa is currently contending with the third known concussion of his NFL career, while standout linebacker Bradley Chubb remains on the physically unable to perform list due to the torn ACL he sustained in Week 17 of the previous season. Both the Patriots and the Dolphins will seek to navigate their respective injury challenges when they face off in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on Sunday.