Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle suffered an apparent injury during a joint practice against the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday. Here’s what we know so far.
Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle Injured in Wednesday’s Practice
Waddle stayed down on the field following a rep in an 11-on-11 drill. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and the club’s medical staff attended to the second-year wideout.
Waddle, shaken up and helmet off, appeared to suffer an injury on the right side of his body, potentially to his rib or torso area. He eventually departed for the locker room. While Waddle was accompanied by trainers, he was able to leave the field under his own power.
While it’s far too early to speculate on Waddle’s potential injury, losing the former first-round pick for any amount of time would be devastating for Miami’s offense. Along with Tyreek Hill, Waddle formed one of the NFL’s most fearsome wide receiver duos in 2022.
Waddle, who topped 1,000 yards receiving as a rookie in 2021, took his game to an entirely different level last season. He posted a 75-1,356-8 line while leading the league in yards per reception (18.1).
Waddle ranked third in the NFL in yards per route run (2.59), trailing only Hill and the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson. He was one of just 17 receivers to top two yards per route run last season.
A constant threat to gain additional yardage, Waddle finished third in yards after the catch per reception. He generated the fifth-most yards after the catch in total.
Were Waddle sidelined, the Dolphins would have to dip into their WR depth and find more pass-catching options for Tua Tagovailoa. Veteran WRs like Cedrick Wilson Jr, Robbie Chosen, and Braxton Berrios would receive more targets, while second-year wideout Erik Ezukanma could be asked to take on a larger role.
This is a developing story. We will provide more updates as they become available.