Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb are ‘absolutely attacking’ their rehab

Mike McDaniel said the Dolphins had to mandate a week off for Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb “because they literally live” at rehab.

The Miami Dolphins finished third in the NFL in sacks last season with 56, but there are more questions than answers about the team’s stable of pass rushers right now.

In addition to losing Christian Wilkins in free agency, the Dolphins’ top two edge rushers are working to come back from serious injuries that ended their 2023 season. For Jaelan Phillips, it was a gruesome Achilles tear suffered a day after Thanksgiving. For Bradley Chubb, it was an ACL tear on New Year’s Eve.

At the NFL’s annual meeting last week, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel gave an update on Phillips and Chubb. While he was unwilling to provide reporters with a timeline for their respective recoveries, he spoke glowingly about the effort and tenacity the duo have put into rehab.

“Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are extreme versions of, ‘Hey, we need to make sure they aren’t chasing a timeline because as competitors, they will achieve that timeline and it might be at the worst for their bodies,’” McDaniel said. “So relative to timelines, we specifically don’t have those for those two. We’ve had to mandate that they have a week off of rehab just recently, both of them, because they literally live there.

“They have a pseudo-tape on the floor parking spots for their little scooters that they’ve graduated from. They’re both really doing exactly what you’d expect from those two individuals, which is absolutely attacking that process, but doing it from a perspective that they don’t want to get healthy for one week, they want to get healthy for the whole season.”

In February, Phillips shared video of himself walking without a boot for the first time since surgery. Later that month, he told reporters at a charity event that he “feels strong and feels great.”

With the team’s top duo of rushers both recovering from injury and Andrew Van Ginkel joining the Minnesota Vikings in free agency, the Dolphins signed two-time sack artist Shaquil Barrett to provide a boost. It wouldn’t be a surprise either if the team used an early draft pick to bolster its pass rush.

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Shaquil Barrett says it’s a ‘possibility’ he’s played last snap with Bucs

See what Barrett said about his time with the Bucs and his love for Tampa Bay:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans likely have great memories of outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett in a Bucs uniform. But he may have donned the red and pewter for the last time in Tampa Bay’s 31-23 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Barrett spoke to reporters on the Monday after the game, and he confirmed that there is a possibility that the game could have been his last as a Buc. While Barrett acknowledged that there’s a real chance he could be done in Tampa Bay, he called the city his “second home” and stressed that he still wanted to remain with the Bucs if the two could make it happen.

“There’s a possibility,” Barrett said. “I’ve been around for a minute and I know with my contract and my production — and [you] got some promising young guys, that call could play a factor into it — but I would still love to be here.”

His contract will likely be the main point of contention when combined with his production. As it stands, Barrett signed a four-year, $68 million contract in 2021 — he isn’t a free agent, but that contract comes with a potential out next year with a post-June 1 cut, which would leave Tampa Bay with $26 million in dead cap. He’s getting paid quite a bit, but his production has been trending down signficantly since 2021 and he finished with just 4.5 sacks in 2023.

Barrett understands all of this. He acknowledged that there’s a business side to things, but that while he realizes that this could be the end for him and Tampa Bay, he hopes it is not and that he has a lot of great memories of the organization and all they’ve done for him.

“I understand it’s a business, but after everything that happened this year, we’re a family now, and I appreciate them for everything they did — just rocking with me, sticking with me through everything.”

If his tenure with Tampa Bay really is over, he had a great one. Barrett’s last five years in Tampa have seen him net 178 solo tackles, 45 sacks, three interceptions and 15 forced fumbles.

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Eagles eliminated from playoffs after 32-9 loss to Buccaneers

Eagles eliminated from playoffs after 32-9 loss to Buccaneers

The Eagles are set for a dramatic overhaul following the team’s shocking 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs.

Philadelphia was 0-11 on third and fourth downs combined, tallying 268 total yards on ten offensive drives in a sloppy affair that saw missed tackles and no answer for the Tampa blitz as the Eagles were held to 38 rushing yards on the night.

Baker Mayfield outplayed Jalen Hurts, going 22-36 passing for 337 yards, three touchdowns, and 0 interceptions with a 119 quarterback rating.

Rachaad White was strong on the ground, rushing 18 times for 62 yards on the night.

The Eagles will now head into an uncertain offseason, having lost six of the final seven games played, and an overhaul could include head coach Nick Sirianni with the likes of Jim Harbaugh, Bill Belichick, and others available after mass changes around the league.

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Eagles Twitter reacts to humiliating 32-9 loss to Buccaneers in wild-card round

We’re looking at the social media reaction from Philadelphia fans after the Eagles loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round

The Eagles are set for a dramatic overhaul, and there’s nobody safe outside of Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jalen Carter following the team’s shocking 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs.

Philadelphia was 0-11 on third and fourth downs combined, tallying 268 total yards on ten offensive drives in a sloppy affair that saw missed tackles and no answer for the Tampa blitz as the Eagles were held to 38 rushing yards on the night.

With a long offseason set to begin, here’s how Twitter reacted to the madness.

Eagles vs. Bucs: 10 takeaways from first half as Tampa leads 16-9 in NFC wild card game

We’re looking at then takeaways from the first half as tthe Buccaneers hold a 16-9 lead over the Eagles in the NFC wild card game

The Eagles were nearly run out of Raymond James Stadium, but after some timely drops by the Buccaneers and a renewed effort on defense, they trailed 16-9 at halftime.

Julio Jones had three catches in the first half for 22 yards before exiting with a concussion, and Philadelphia held Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to a combined two catches for 30 yards on seven targets.

With the second half set to begin, we’re looking at takeaways from a hard-fought first half.

Eagles vs. Bucs inactives: Avonte Maddox to start at safety with Reed Blankenship ruled out

Reed Blankenship is among seven Eagles ruled out for Philadelphia’s wild card matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Eagles will be without two key starters for tonight’s NFC Wild Card Round game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after Reed Blankenship was ruled out with a groin injury.

Blankenship was listed as questionable, but after a light pregame workout, the talented safety will miss Monday’s matchup at Raymond James Stadium.

All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown will also be out with a knee injury suffered in the Week 18 loss to the Giants.

Jalen Hurts was a limited participant during Thursday’s practice before being upgraded to a full participant on Friday and Saturday.

Cornerback Darius Slay, wide receiver DeVonta Smith and D’Andre Swift were full participants in the final practice of the week and had no game status designations.

Eagles vs. Bucs wild card matchup: Who has the edge at each offensive position?

We’re looking at who has the edge at each position when the Philadelphia Eagles meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFC Wild Card Game

The Eagles will face a familiar foe on the road when they travel to Tampa to face the 9-8 Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium without an injured A.J. Brown.

The most recent postseason meeting came just two years ago, in 2021, in Jalen Hurts’ first road playoff start; Tampa won 31-15.

With kickoff a little over eight hours away, we’re looking at who has the edge at each position on the offensive side of the football.

6 burning questions ahead of Eagles-Buccaneers Wild Card matchup in NFC playoffs

We’re looking at seven burning questions ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Wild Card round of NFC playoffs

Philadelphia went 1-5 down the stretch, but Nick Sirianni’s team advanced to the postseason for the third year in a row, and they’ll look to flip the switch in the NFC playoffs.

They face a familiar foe on the road when they travel to Tampa to face the 9-8 Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium without an injured A.J. Brown.

The most recent postseason meeting came just two years ago, in 2021, in Jalen Hurts’ first road playoff start; Tampa won 31-15.

With kickoff a little over eight hours away, here are six burning questions that must be answered.

Eagles vs. Buccaneers: One thing to watch from each offensive position group

We’re looking at one thing to watch from each of the Eagles’ offensive position group ahead of Monday night’s matchup vs. the Buccaneers

After the Cowboys’ upset loss to the Packers and Lions win over the Rams, the Eagles-Buccaneers winner will travel to Detroit for a divisional-round matchup next Sunday.

The two teams have met five previous times, including Tampa Bay’s NFC Championship Game in Philadelphia in 2002 to close out Veteran’s Stadium. The most recent postseason meeting came just two years ago, in 2021, in Jalen Hurts’ first road playoff start; Tampa won 31-15.

With final preparations completed for both teams, we’re looking at one thing to watch from each of the Birds offensive position groups.

Eagles unofficial depth chart ahead of wild card matchup vs. Buccaneers

We’re looking at the Philadelphia Eagles unofficial depth chart for their Wild Card matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Eagles have a chance to write a new chapter on this season, and the journey will start at Raymond James Stadium against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

It’ll be a rematch of a Week 3 clash that also took place on a Monday night, as Philadelphia came away with a 25-11 win that wasn’t as close as the score indicated.

On that night in September, the Eagles ran for 201 yards, and Hurts passed for 277, dominating the time of possession. It started an identity crisis for Philadelphia, as they struggled going 1-for-5 in the red zone.

The Eagles’ defense limited Tampa Bay to 41 rushing yards, forced two takeaways, and held Mayfield to 146 passing yards with two quarterback sacks.

With kickoff fast approaching, here’s an updated depth chart for Monday night courtesy of Philadelphia’s PR staff.