Finding a reptile lounging in your home might not be uncommon for a regular South Florida resident, but for Jaelan Phillips, an iguana gave him a humungous surprise. The Miami Dolphins linebacker was stumped at discovering the lizard in his toilet on Thursday and had a hilarious reaction.
Despite being in Miami since 2021, Phillips shared his first Florida-esque experience in a string of Instagram videos. “Man, this is some Florida shit if I’ve ever seen it,” he said on spotting an iguana in his bathroom. “How the hell did you get in here? That man is bathing in my toilet. And he’s not a pet. I don’t know where he came from. That’s a grown man.”
Clueless about how to deal with the reptile, the California native had to call the exterminator, and the whole adventure cost him over a hundred dollars. However, the linebacker still had sympathy for his houseguest. “I can’t even do nothing about him. I had to call the exterminator. A 150 dollars to get this man out of here. You must be a victim, my friend. You’re not in the right place.”
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Phillips was also curious about how the iguana entered his house in the first place. “I just wanna know if you came up through there like a ninja turtle or if he was living in the garage or something.” The linebacker, clearly astounded by the size of the reptile, put up his NFL-sized hand as a reference. “My bro’s huge, bro’s massive,” exclaimed the Dolphins’ star.
Jaelan Phillips stumbled upon an iguana in his toilet 😭 pic.twitter.com/lS1hg6qxuj
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) May 23, 2024
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Fortunately, Phillips wouldn’t have to spend more time with his new ‘roommate,’ as he is expected to return to the 2024 season after having his last year cut short by a leg injury. The linebacker even attended this week’s OTA, albeit an hour late. The head coach opened up about what the upcoming season looks like for the edge rusher.
Jaelan Phillips attends OTAs amidst HC’s concerns
The 2021 draft has secured a fifth-year option for himself, but whether he will be able to return in full form still remains uncertain. Phillips had damaged his Achilles tendon last season and had to undergo 9-12 months of rehabilitation. His partner, Bradley Chubb, is also recovering after suffering from an ACL tear last season.
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Both edge rushers were spotted in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on Tuesday, and the HC’s biggest concern is to not let the players worsen their injury before the season commences. “From the onset, you really have to keep an eye on both those guys to make sure they aren’t doing too much,” said Mike McDaniel, as per Miami Herald, “…[We’re] really protecting the Miami Dolphins from those individuals themselves because they will do too much too soon. They are doing great day by day.”
Jalean Phillips could only play in nine games last year, where he amassed 43 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and one interception. Till the edge rusher is fully prepared to return, the Dolphins are likely to use free agents and rookies as his replacement. However, if all goes well, we will soon see the 24-year-old back on the field, fighting for Miami.