Dolphins reportedly expected to sign veteran edge rusher, Deerfield Beach native Jason Pierre-Paul

The Miami Dolphins were expected to add a pass rusher after Jaelan Phillips’ season-ending Achilles tear.

It appears that addition will come in the form of veteran Jason Pierre-Paul, a three-time Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl champion and South Florida native.

Pierre-Paul, currently a member of the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad, is reportedly expected to sign with the Dolphins’ active roster, according to NFL Network on Monday night. He later posted, in part, on Instagram: “I’M COMING HOME,” with a dolphin emoji.

Pierre-Paul, who turns 35 on Jan. 1, has 94 1/2 career sacks in 180 NFL games played. He has 3 1/2 postseason sacks, including two in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2020 run to the Super Bowl. He also won a title with the 2011 New York Giants.

As a member of the Saints’ practice squad, Pierre-Paul was elevated to the active roster this past weekend to play in New Orleans’ loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. He had two tackles.

The experienced edge defender is a Deerfield Beach High grad. He made a national name for himself collegiately with University of South Florida in Tampa. Pierre-Paul was the No. 15 pick of the 2010 draft for the Giants, with which he spent his first eight NFL seasons and was a first-team All-Pro in 2011.

Phillips’ injury occurred in the fourth quarter of the Dolphins’ Friday win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The third-year outside linebacker out of University of Miami is a key loss to Miami’s defense as he had 6 1/2 sacks in eight games in 2023.

The Dolphins still have Pro Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubb on the opposite side. Andrew Van Ginkel is expected to start in Phillips’ place, and Emmanuel Ogbah is also in line to see an uptick in defensive snaps. Pierre-Paul could provide depth and a sporadic pass-rush attempt for the Dolphins, who also have second-year outside linebacker Cameron Goode, but he is largely a special teams contributor.

Pierre-Paul famously had his index finger and the top half of his middle finger on his right hand amputated after an accident lighting fireworks July 4, 2015. He plays football with a club on the injured hand.

Miami has not yet announced the placement of Phillips on injured reserve or the signing of Pierre-Paul — or any other corresponding move — since the injury.

This story will be updated.