Vincent Frank
The 8-3 Miami Dolphins are looking for reinforcements on the defensive side of the ball after losing stud pass rusher Jaelan Phillips for the season Friday due to a torn Achilles.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Miami is expected to sign three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul off the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad.
Pierre-Paul, 34, had signed with New Orleans practice squad earlier in November. He was elevated to the active roster ahead of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, recording two tackles while playing 17 total snaps.
By signing with Miami, Pierre-Paul guarantees that he’ll remain a member of the active roster for the foreseeable future.
A first-round pick of the New York Giants back in 2010, JPP earned two Pro Bowl appearances in his first three NFL seasons. He last made a trip to the Pro Bowl back in 2020 as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in 2020, recording 14 QB hits and 9.5 sacks in the process.
Related: Miami Dolphins standing in Sportsnaut’s NFL defense rankings
Miami Dolphins add reinforcement in Jason Pierre-Paul
Losing Phillips for the season was a major blow for Miami. Prior to going down, the former No. 18 pick had recorded 11 QB hits and 6.5 sacks. All said, the Miami (F) product has registered 52 QB hits and 22 sacks in 42 career games.
Miami will be relying on Pierre-Paul as a situational guy to go with Andrew Van Ginkel and Emmanuel Ogbah next to Bradley Chubb.
Despite their 8-3 record and standing as a first-place team heading into Week 13, the Dolphins rank in the bottom 10 of the NFL in points allowed. Despite this, they have recorded a whopping 38 sacks in 11 games.
- Jason Pierre-Paul career stats: 167 QB hits, 127 tackles for loss, 94.5 sacks
Phillips had spearheaded things with 6.5 sacks. As for those currently healthy on the Dolphins’ roster, Christian Wilkins (6.5 sacks) and the aforementioned Chubb (6 sacks) headline things.
Miami has a relatively easy three-game stretch coming up against the Washington Commanders, Tennessee Titans and New York Jets before an extremely tough three games to close out the regular season. That includes outings against the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills.
This gives head coach Mike McDaniel and Co. time for Pierre-Paul to get acclimated in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme.
