What to know about Phillips and Van Ginkel in a deep linebacker room. And Dolphins notes

A six-pack of Miami Dolphins notes on a Tuesday:

▪ The Dolphins have a good situation going at outside linebacker, with two accomplished veterans (Bradley Chubb and Melvin Ingram), a rising young talent in Jaelan Phillips and a young veteran (Andrew Van Ginkel) who’s helping despite a reduced role.

Phillips’ 4.5 sacks rank only 51st in the league. But Pro Football Focus’ Ryan Smith notes that Phillips, since Week 6, ranks second in the league with 35 pressures.

He’s eighth overall in quarterback pressures among edge defenders, with 45. And ESPN ranks Phillips second in pass rush win rate.

PFF ranks him 11th among 118 edge defenders overall this season.

Van Ginkel’s playing time has diminished from 71 percent of Miami’s defensive snaps last season to 25 percent this season. But he’s finding ways to contribute, including his first career interception Sunday.

“It’s tough when your role decreases,” he said at his locker last week. “But you have got to accept your role and excel at it, whether it’s special teams and coming in occasionally on defense.”

His defensive snaps have been in the mid-20s for four of the past five games, including 23 on Sunday.

The drop in playing time — initially the result of an August appendectomy but more a byproduct of Ingram’s addition — has come at an inauspicious time, with Van Ginkel due to become a free agent in March.

How tough is it to not allow limited playing time to bother him in a contract year?

“I’m not worrying about that,” he said. “It’s one of those things you’ve got to accept. I got good film out there so I’m not too worried about it.”

Have players tried to lift his spirits?

“They all do kind of a good job of keeping you in high spirits,” he said. “You’re always one play away from going in and taking every snap. You have to keep your confidence high and all the coaches try to uplift everybody and keep them positive and encourage them.

“We’ve got a lot of good outside linebackers. Coach does a good job of keeping us all fresh and putting us in position to make plays. Got to take advantage when I’m in there.”

Van Ginkel has shown a knack for being around the ball in his career.

In 50 games, he has 10.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, 35 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, including one taken 78 yards for a touchdown.

He said he would love to return to the Dolphins next season.

▪ One area where the Dolphins have missed Brandon Jones is his blitzing.

Up until the time he sustained a season-ending ACL injury against Pittsburgh, Jones had seven sacks since the start of 2021 — the most by an NFL safety during that period.

The Dolphins haven’t blitzed his replacements a lot.

Eric Rowe has rushed the quarterback on six occasions and has no pressures.

Verone McKinley III has rushed the QB four times and has one pressure.

Elijah Campbell has rushed the QB twice and has a pressure.

Meanwhile, Jevon Holland — needed in coverage — has rushed only 20 times this season, with 1.5 sacks and four pressures.

“A guy like Brandon, it’s hard to replace somebody of that caliber — the speed at which he plays the game, the intensity, his blitz ability, his coverage skills were getting better each and every week,” safeties coach Steve Gregory said.

“I don’t think you replace a guy like Brandon Jones. I think you collectively try to do it as a group. You try to build a scheme around certain players and utilize their assets and their abilities to their advantage. That’s what we try to do with all of our players at all three levels of the defense. It’s going well so far.”

▪ In coverage, McKinley has been targeted only once in coverage, per PFF, and had his first interception last Sunday.

What are his best NFL skills?

“He does a really good job with communication,” Gregory said. “He’s smart. He understands the game. He takes good angles to the football. He’s a reliable tackler. I still think there’s some areas of his game to grow. He’s still a young, maturing player. He plays the deep part of the field well. We’re trying to use his versatility in different ways.”

▪ Pro Football Focus’ five highest-rated Dolphins on offense Sunday: River Cracraft, Tyreek Hill, Tua Tagovailoa, Terron Armstead and Connor Williams.

PFF’s five highest-rated Dolphins on defense on Sunday: Jerome Baker, Christian Wilkins, Raekwon Davis, Xavien Howard and McKinley.

▪ The Dolphins were well represented in the early stages of Pro Bowl fan voting announced Monday.

Armstead is the No. 1 vote getter at left tackle and Alec Ingold is No. 1 among fullbacks.

Tyreek Hill is second (behind Justin Jefferson) and Jaylen Waddle fourth in voting at receiver.

Tagovailoa is third in voting at quarterback, behind Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.

Mike Gesicki is No. 9 among tight ends.

Williams is No. 8 among centers.

Holland is No. 3 among free safeties.

Chubb is eighth among outside linebackers.

And Raheem Mostert is sixth for return specialists.

Online voting will continue through Dec. 15 at www.nfl.com/pro-bowl-games/vote.

Votes of fans, players and coaches will count equally in determining the Pro Bowl roster, with players and coaches voting on Dec. 16.

▪ Quick stuff: Cornerback Byron Jones still isn’t ready to practice after March leg surgery that was supposed to sideline him for three months before a setback sometime in recent months. Jones isn’t permitted to speak to reporters, and McDaniel said Monday that he had no update. His chances of returning this season continue to diminish. None of his $13.5 million salary next season is guaranteed...

How selfless is Robert Jones, who has started at left guard the past two games?

He said as well as he has played (especially against Cleveland), “I hope Liam [Eichenberg] gets his job back” when he returns from a knee injury later in the season. “I feel I can play anywhere,” he said....

The Dolphins released offensive lineman Grant Hermanns and wide receiver Calvin Jackson from the practice squad and restored receiver Freddie Swain from the practice squad injured list.