Raheem Mostert calls out MetLife Stadium turf after Jaelan Phillips Achilles injury
Miami Dolphins (8-3) linebacker Jaelan Phillips suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in the 34-13 Week 12 victory over the New York Jets (4-7) Friday, becoming the latest star player to go down with a significant injury on the MetLife Stadium turf.
Many players and coaches around the league have voiced their displeasure with the turf, especially in the aftermath of Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers tearing his Achilles in Week 1 this season. Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert gave his opinion after seeing Phillips drop to the turf untouched, calling the playing surface a “major problem.”
“It’s tough, especially playing on this turf,” Mostert said, via Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post. “No player wants to go down with a significant injury. You saw what happened to Rodgers, his very first game within the first series. It just sucks, man.
“For JP [Phillips], he’s going to have his space right. He’s going to get his mental right and be back stronger and better than ever. We’ve got to do something about this turf and this playing surface. Obviously, there is still a major problem. It just has to change.”
Dolphins safety Jevon Holland echoed much of what Mostert had to say.
“Since I’ve been in the league, I’ve heard the field is trash,” Holland said. “I don’t know the statistics or anything like that. But I do know turf does increase the chances of getting hurt.”
Dolphins suffer huge blow with injury to Jaelan Phillips
Phillips, 24, is in his third season after the Dolphins selected him with the 18th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Miami. In eight games this season, he recorded 6.5 sacks, 43 tackles (28 solo), 11 quarterback hits and one interception. In the two seasons prior, he totaled 15.5 sacks, 103 tackles (60 solo) and 41 quarterback hits.
With Phillips sidelined for the remainder of the season, Miami will lean on veterans such as Bradley Chubb, Christian Wilkins, Andrew Van Ginkel and Emmanuel Ogbah among others to generate pressure and get to the quarterback.
“You don’t necessarily replace Jaelan Phillips,” head coach McDaniel said. “But you can have guys that are fully capable to step up and kind of get his production through different ways. We are fortunate enough to have some depth.
“You don’t necessarily replace him. But it just gives different people opportunities and you kind of spread that out to do your best to compensate for that production loss.”