The Miami Dolphins are moving on quickly from Jaelan Phillips who can no longer play this season after succumbing to an Achilles injury.
The team signed Jason Pierre-Paul from the New Orleans Saints' practice squad in hopes keeping their momentum going as they currently lord over the AFC East with an 8-3 record.
It is a shame that Phillips is having a great season but will not be there all the way to the end for the Dolphins.
But the Miami-based team is not the only one going through such regretful development. From the New York Jets to the Minnesota Vikings, the league has seen considerable amount of season-ending injuries to players that changed the trajectory of their respective team's 2023-2024 season campaign.
Here are the most heart-breaking season-ending injuries of 2023. The list is narrowed to high profile players with significant contribution to their teams.
1. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
The four-time league MVP is hoping to turn over a new leaf after moving on from the Green Bay Packers with whom he won a Super Bowl and a Super Bowl MVP.
The Jets were equally excited about having Rodgers on their team but misfortune struck as he injured his left ankle on his Jets debut against the Buffalo Bills. The team won the match but Rodgers was confirmed to be out for the season due to Achilles tendon rupture.
There are chatters that the 39-year-old QB will be back sooner than expected but as long as he hasn't suit up again for the Jets, his 2023 is basically over.
2. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Cousins came into the new season as an underrated quarterback, boosted by his appearance in the Netflix show Quarterback.
He is typically an Iron-man for the Vikings as he never missed a game for the team since arriving there in 2018.
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It was on a fateful day in late October that his Iron-man run came to an end after injuring his Achilles against the Green Bay Packers.
By October 31 it was confirmed that he was out for the season.
This hurts for the Vikings fans as they were finally able to recover from a slow start, winning three games straight including the game where Cousins went down.
The Vikings signed Joshua Dobbs and they are looking good so far.
3. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
The AFC North race is a tight own with three of the four teams above 500. Cleveland Browns are tied in second place with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 7-4.
They are hoping to fortify their position but have to do it without main QB Deshaun Watson who went down with a right shoulder injury in Week 10 against the Baltimore Ravens.
"It's very tough," he tearfully said when he addressed the media to announce his road to recovery.
He is expected to make his return before the start of the 2024-2025 season.
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow has just undergone a successful surgery on his wrist but fans can't help but wonder what their season would have been like if he did not go down on Week 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Bengals organization is putting their faith in the 26-year-old after locking him for five years through a $275 million contract extension.
Fans can only wonder about the "What ifs" as their team sit at the bottom of the AFC North Division with a 5-6 record.
5. C. J. Gardner-Johnson, Detroit Lions
Last season's leader in interceptions joined the Lions in March, 2023.
He contracted a leg injury during the training camp but the MRI showed that he avoided structural damage and was instead listed "day-to-day".
He made a recovery but by Week 2, the worst of the worst struck as he suffered a torn pectoral and needed surgery to recover.
Lions Coach Dan Campbell said there is no assurance he will be able to return soon unless he is Wolverine.
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