John Phillips (American football)
_2016.jpg) Phillips in 2016 | |||||||||
| No. 86 New Orleans Saints | |||||||||
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| Position: | Tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | June 11, 1987 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Low Moor, Virginia | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 251 lb (114 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Hot Springs (VA) Bath Co. | ||||||||
| College: | Virginia | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2009 / Round: 6 / Pick: 208 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2016 | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
John Phillips (born June 11, 1987) is an American football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, 208th overall, in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Virginia.
Early years
Phillips played high school football, basketball, and baseball at Bath County High School in Hot Springs, Virginia, earning many awards in the district and region, besides receiving All-state honors at defensive end and tight end. He also was an All-state baseball player.
He accepted a scholarship from the University of Virginia and blossomed as a senior, becoming team captain and a first-team All-ACC selection. He also had a 48-reception season, second-best by a tight end in school history. He finished his college career with 69 receptions for 670 yards and five touchdowns.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Phillips was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys 208th overall in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft and surprised observers by making the team. In 2009, he had 7 catches for 62 yards, while mostly being used as a blocking tight end.
In the 2010 preseason, he was impressing the coaching staff with his skills as a receiver and his ability to take different assignments, including the H-Back role. His performance was starting to push Martellus Bennett for the backup tight end job, but he was lost for the year in the preseason opener, when he suffered a season-ending ACL tear.[1] It has been speculated that he was never the same player following this injury.[2] The next year, he returned in a backup role and posted career-highs with 15 receptions for 101 yards.
After Bennett left in free agency, Phillips had a solid season as the backup tight end for the Cowboys in 2012. He had 8 receptions for 55 yards, one touchdown and started 9 games, serving mainly as an H-Back or blocking tight end. At the end of the year, the Cowboys didn't make an offer to re-sign him.
San Diego Chargers
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Phillips signed as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers on March 12, 2013.[3] He was used as a blocking specialist until being placed on the injured reserve list, after suffering ACL and MCL tears in his right knee during the sixteenth game against the Oakland Raiders. He came back to play in all of the 16 games (one start) of the 2014 season.
In 2015, he was released on September 5,[4] only to be re-signed 5 days later, [5] after Ladarius Green suffered his second concussion of the year and Antonio Gates was still serving his suspension. He was the starter in the third and fourth game of the season, making a critical touchdown reception against the Cleveland Browns. After Gates returned in the fifth game, Phillips was used mainly for blocking purposes. He played in 16 games (5 starts), while posting 10 receptions for 69 yards and one touchdown.
Denver Broncos
On July 28, 2016, he was signed as a free agent by the Denver Broncos. He overcame a serious ankle injury he suffered in his second day in training camp to make the team.[6] On November 5th 2016 he was released by the Broncos.[7]
New Orleans Saints
Phillips was claimed off waivers by the Saints on November 7, 2016.[8]
References
- ↑ "Cowboys' John Phillips out for season". Retrieved January 3, 2016.
- ↑ "Cowboys free agents: John Phillips". Retrieved January 3, 2016.
- ↑ Chargers agree to terms with TE John Phillips
- ↑ Williams, Eric (September 5, 2015). "San Diego Chargers cut 19 players, including tight end John Phillips". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ↑ Henne, Ricky (September 10, 2015). "Bolts Bring Back John Phillips". Chargers.com. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ↑ "Jeff Heuerman's injury means John Phillips, Virgil Green will get plenty of work in opener". Retrieved September 3, 2016.
- ↑ Mason, Andrew (November 5, 2016). "Broncos promote Taurean Nixon to 53-man roster". DenverBroncos.com.
- ↑ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. November 9, 2016.