Since joining the Washington Commanders from Alabama in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis has missed more games than he’s played.

On the third defensive snap of his career, Mathis sustained a torn meniscus and missed the remainder of the 2022 season.

In 2023, Mathis opened the season on injured reserve after suffering a calf injury during the preseason and missed the first seven games.

“Mentally, it took a toll on me bad,” Mathis said on Monday. “You got people’s expectations for you, you got family expectations and then you got expectations for yourself, and it’s kind of overwhelming because you know what you can do and then you keep having setback after setback. It’s kind of a mental game to me. It kind of took me into a deep depression, man. I was kind of down all year long, just knowing I was supposed to be out there, and I wasn’t able to be out there, so it was just really a mental breakdown. I had to find myself all over again.

“I can just say God work in mysterious ways because he gave me another opportunity to go back out there and finish 10 games without having no hiccups or anything.”

After Mathis returned to the field on Oct. 29 in a 38-31 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, he averaged 20 snaps a game relieving fellow Crimson Tide alumni Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne in Washington’s defensive line. He played a career-high 37 snaps in the season finale on Sunday with Allen out because of a knee injury.

“It was very important for me just coming back after missing a long year, then coming back this year getting hurt again with my calf injury, missing seven games again,” Mathis said. “I got to play 10 games this year. I’m very thankful for that. I came out healthy. I get to train all summer long just to come back and get better and just to put more on film. Just show everybody who I really am. Ain’t too much you can do in 10 games. I just want to come back next year and have a full year and turn everything around.”

That turnaround will extend to his mentality, Mathis said.

“I just want to improve all around my game,” Mathis said. “I want to come back a different person, have a different mindset, different mentality. I just want to come back as a different guy. I know I’m going to come back a different guy, and I’m going to put more on tape. I’m going to work so hard till I can’t no more because I know it’s an important year for me just to show everybody who I really am.”

Mathis will have a new coach in 2024 after Washington fired Ron Rivera on Monday.

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“He mean a lot to me, man,” Mathis said. “He brought me in here. He believed in me all year long when a lot of people doubted me. He always told me: ‘Just keep working.’ He always motivated me, so I’m very thankful for coach. I ain’t really got to talk to him yet, but I do want to go talk to him just one-on-one to let him know how thankful I am for him for coming into my life and believing in me and giving me the opportunity to become a part of the Commanders.

“I’m going to miss Coach. I’m sorry it had to happen that way, but it’s business. I’m pretty sure he understand.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.