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BALTIMORE — Following their recent defeat to the Patriots, Jets’ defensive tackle Harrison Phillips found himself struggling to walk.
Phillips is nursing a foot injury, the details of which remain undisclosed. However, it’s severe enough to warrant the use of a walking boot both prior to and following the game.
Remarkably, Phillips still managed to participate in 41 snaps against the Patriots, delivering a commendable performance.
“Throughout my career, I’ve pushed through numerous challenges,” Phillips shared. “Heading into last week’s matchup, I was in considerable pain—among the top three or four most painful experiences I’ve faced. My love for this sport runs deep, and I’m willing to make significant sacrifices for it. With the blend of passion, emotion, adrenaline, and a touch of modern medicine, I can persevere.”
This week, Phillips has been limited during practice but remains optimistic about playing against the Ravens.
The 29-year-old is a veteran when it comes to playing through pain.
He said in his career he has played through a torn labrum, chronic back pain, a ruptured plate in his foot, a torn meniscus, dislocated fingers and last season a gash on his chin that opened up every time he buckled his chin strap.
“It’s the nature of playing nose guard in the NFL,” Phillip said.
Most players in the NFL are dealing with some kind of injury by this point in the season, but Phillips’ injury seems worse than usual wear and tear.
He did not practice before the Patriots game other than making sure he could get into his stance.
The emotions of the game carried him through the Thursday night tilt.
“I think as the game went on I felt it less, more adrenaline and there’s so many other distractions that I wasn’t thinking about that as much,” Phillips said.
After the game, he sat in the cold tub. When he got out, the pain returned.
“I realized I can’t really walk,” Phillips said.
Phillips has been a key acquisition for the Jets, who traded for him in training camp.
He has been a solid piece of the defensive line and even more important now with Quinnen Williams gone.
“He’s a hell of a player,” coach Aaron Glenn said. “I love that we have him, I do, because he’s the type of guy that can teach the other guys exactly what it is to play defensive lineman.”
The Jets activated LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball off of injured reserve and released LB Ja’Markis Weston.