Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has up until now been able to avoid the injuries that disrupted his 2023 season. But he certainly had a bit of a hitch in his gait at practice Wednesday.
The Dolphins’ Wednesday injury report shed light on why Waddle was a bit gimpy — he’s dealing with a quadriceps injury that limited his participation in practice ahead of the Dolphins’ Week 8 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Will Jaylen Waddle Play in Week 8?
It’s unclear how exactly Waddle got hurt. The team never announced an injury during last Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. Waddle played 59 of a possible 69 snaps against the Colts, but he wasn’t particularly productive, catching just one pass for 11 yards on two targets.
Waddle was even brought to the podium for a news conference post-game, suggesting the team wasn’t aware of a notable issue. And the fact that he practiced in any capacity Wednesday further suggests his issue might not be major.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel will not be available to give an update on Waddle’s injury until Friday.
Miami Dolphins WR Depth Chart Overview
Waddle has been the picture of health this regular season after missing three full games and parts of several others in 2023 with a long list of injuries, including a concussion and chest and ankle issues.
This season, he’s started every game.
If Waddle does go Sunday, it’ll be a boon to a Dolphins offense that is expected to get back Tua Tagovailoa, who has been out the last four games with a concussion.
I would love to know what this convo was about between Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Mike McDaniel😂 pic.twitter.com/KmCwkj866b
— Mike Cugno (@MikeCugnoCBS4) October 20, 2024
If Waddle cannot go, the Dolphins will be quite thin at wide receiver, particularly with Braxton Berrios out for the season.
The next men up are Odell Beckham Jr. (zero catches on three targets this year) and Malik Washington (three catches for 17 yards on four targets). The Dolphins could also call up Dee Eskridge, Erik Ezukanma, or Tarik Black from the practice squad.
