Howie Roseman shut down misguided narrative on Jaelan Phillips after Eagles trade
Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman's prized trade of the season was acquiring Miami Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, but that move still came with some lingering questions.
The Eagles had to give up a 2026 third-round pick to get Phillips, but the defender fills a massive hole off the edge. 4.5 sacks by Philly's edge rushers this season were a big reason something had to change there.
One question being raised is Phillips' injury history, and concerns are being expressed about offering him a contract extension due to it. Roseman made sure to make his stance clear on the deal and his lack of concern with his injury.
“Obviously, there's no insurance on any of these deals. We gave up a third-round pick, which is a lot of compensation. We really went back, and whenever we make these moves for all three of these players, [we’re] really doing a deep dive on these guys and not just watching this year, but going back and watching through their career. [I’m] going back and reminding myself what we thought of them coming out and watching some of them in college, and watching those injuries. The Achilles happened on a Black Friday game, I think two years ago, at MetLife Stadium. The ACL was, I think, a teammate kind of went into his leg. So, it wasn't one of those non-contact injuries."
Phillips' injury history wouldn't stop the Eagles from getting him
The Achilles injury Roseman is talking about is Phillips missing the back half of the 2023 season and the beginning part of the 2024 season. In total, Phillips lost 23 games in those two seasons combined.
To start the 2025 season, Phillips has so far shut down talk of durability issues, as he has appeared in all nine games for the Dolphins. He's racked up 25 tackles, seven quarterback hits, three tackles for loss, three sacks, and one fumble recovery.
Roseman assured the media of his confidence that Phillips is going to come in and be an instant contributor to the Eagles.
"Just knowing the person and what kind of worker he is, the freak show of an athlete that he is, and seeing the effect that he had on the game this year. Watching him and just seeing the difference that he makes, and really, he's made every time he's been on the field since they drafted him. For us, it's so hard to find difference makers as players and as people that-- you don't want to live with regret in this job. I think when we came down to it and had the conversations, the regret would be not doing everything we can to try to maximize the ability of this team to win as many games as we possibly can and give ourselves an opportunity in January and, hopefully, February.”
Eagles fans hope to see Phillips on the field for their first game back from the bye week against the Green Bay Packers.
Is this the move that finally takes the Browns to the next level? Fans are losing their minds!
The Cleveland Browns are signing former rookie receiver Isaiah Bond, who was no-billed by a grand jury after his April arrest on a sexual assault charge.
Bond, once projected as a mid-round pick, went undrafted after his stock plummeted following an April arrest on a sexual assault warrant in Texas. He did participate in the NFL combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds. However, no team wanted to take a shot on Bond with his legal situation unfolding.
Bond released a statement saying he had signed with the Browns shortly after he was cleared of the charges on Thursday.
“First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Cleveland Browns for believing in me and allowing me the opportunity to continue my career in the NFL. Football has been my passion since I was six years old, and playing at this level is a blessing I will never take for granted,” Bond said. “I understand that playing in the NFL is a privilege, and I’m thankful every day to live my childhood dream.”
Bond said he won’t discuss the details of the case but reiterated that he “refuted the allegations and maintained my innocence” from the start.
“My focus now is on football. Learning this offense, building strong relationships with my teammates, and making significant contributions within the Cleveland community,” Bond said. “I’m determined to prove the Browns organization and everyone who believes in me right for putting their trust in me.”
Browns Signing Isaiah Bond Draws Viral Reaction
The Browns have found themselves in the headlines for all the wrong reasons this offseason. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins faced domestic violence allegations, while defensive star Myles Garrett and rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders have both been cited for speeding. Quarterback Deshaun Watson also continues to draw criticism for the off-field conduct that led to his 11-game suspension in 2022.
Against that backdrop, Cleveland’s decision to sign Bond drew a familiar reaction online.
“Great pickup, also not surprised at all we were the ones to sign him,” one fan wrote, adding a crying-laughing emoji. Another noted, “The Browns could very well fill an entire roster filled with off-the-field problems.” A third summed it up simply: “Well, the Browns definitely have a type.”
Bond addresses a clear need for Cleveland. The Browns opted not to draft a wide receiver despite their thin depth chart. If the rookie can pick up the offense quickly, he could contribute sooner rather than later.
Browns RB Quinshon Judkins Won’t Be Charged
The Browns are also expected to get Judkins back in the mix soon after it was announced that he would not be facing charges in his domestic violence case.
The Broward State Attorney’s office in South Florida announced the decision on Thursday that it would decline to formally charge Judkins.
“This incident was not captured on any video surveillance. There are no independent witnesses to the incident. Although the victim had photos showing injuries sustained, there were also videos in that same time frame where no injuries were observed to the victim,” the explanation read.
The NFL is still reviewing Judkins’ situation, per cleveland.com. Judkins — a second-round pick — is the only unsigned rookie in the NFL.
