NFL fans got an up-close look at the moment Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips had his season ended last Friday against the Jets at MetLife Stadium on the latest episode of “Hard Knocks.”
Phillips had been mic’d up when the injury occurred in Miami’s win over the Jets.
Part of Tuesday night’s episode had been dedicated to letting viewers get an inside look at who Phillips was off the field and the force he has become on it.
Nevertheless, things turned ominous when show narrator Liev Schreiber said, “The man who has fought the injuries his whole career is on the verge of stardom.”
The next play shown was the devastating moment Phillips seemed to just collapse as he went for a pass rush.
“I think my s–t popped,” Phillips said to a Jets and Dolphins player standing over him. “My Achilles.”
“I think my Achilles popped bro,” he continued.
Team trainers could be seen rushing onto the field as Phillips continued to speak, expecting the worst.
“Nah bro, it’s done. It’s popped bro,” Phillips told teammates trying to reassure him it wasn’t that bad.
“It felt like someone f–king shot me in my f–king Achilles bro,” he said. “I thought someone stepped on me. There’s no way.”
It was a heartwrenching scene that only tugged on the heartstrings even more as Phillips broke down in tears surrounded by Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and the team’s medical staff.
Phillips was still emotional as the cameras shot him as he was carted off the field as players from both teams watched.
In the midst of a strong season for the Dolphins, Phillips finished the year with 43 tackles and 6.5 sacks.
Miami brought in Jason Pierre-Paul to try and fill the gap left by Phillips’ absence.
During an appearance on ESPN New York on Tuesday, Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson said it was something he hated to see happen to Phillips.
“It’s something you always you hate to see when someone goes down,” Wilson said. “I figured out it was an Achilles later and saw the video after the game. It’s something as an athlete you can’t help but think about.”