The playoffs are clinched in South Florida, but the Miami Dolphins still have plenty to play for. In the team’s Week 17 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, who hold the best record in the NFL at 12-3, the Dolphins have a chance to clinch the AFC East and take the lead in the race for the No. 1 seed in the conference.
There’s been plenty of movement on the injury report for both squads heading into this marquee matchup, and both sides will likely be missing key players, while Miami is in line to get a couple of starters back into the lineup.
Jaylen Waddle Sidelined, Robert Hunt and Jevon Holland Could Return to Action in Week 17
Jaylen Waddle is out — Mike McDaniel was definitive on that point in his Friday press conference. But the Dolphins head coach also expressed optimism about his stud speedster’s status earlier in the week, saying that the high ankle sprain Waddle suffered against the Dallas Cowboys last week is “not overly severe.”
As for who will replace Waddle’s production, which has seen an upward trajectory since a slow start to the season, there’s no doubt that even more emphasis will be placed on Tyreek Hill. The league’s leader in receiving yards (1,641) has been limited throughout the week with his own ankle issue but played through it against the Cowboys and didn’t appear to suffer any setbacks.
The Dolphins will also use a combination of Braxton Berrios, Cedrick Wilson Jr., and Chase Claypool to help fill in for Waddle. River Cracraft, who was a healthy inactive last week but provided some key plays on offense back in September, could also be back in the rotation.
McDaniel had some praise for Claypool on Friday when asked about the young wideout, who is looking to use a change of scenery following a midseason trade from Chicago to turn around a once-promising career.
“In practice, there’s been an uptick in involvement … Whatever narratives existed before, all he’s done here is chopped wood, gotten better, and assimilated into a system that is not necessarily easy … it’s been really cool to watch him define himself with his teammates and take advantage of whatever opportunity is given … I expect to see a little bit more of him too.”
QB Tua Tagovailoa, in case you were wondering, is good to go despite being listed on the injury report with thumb and quad issues. McDaniel joked to reporters that his franchise QB hurt his thumb in a high-stakes thumb war before clarifying that Tagovailoa banged up his left thumb in the first quarter of the game against Dallas. The head coach said he didn’t even know about the injury until the following day.
Elsewhere on offense, McDaniel expects both veteran Raheem Mostert (ankle) and rookie De’Von Achane (toe) to be good to go for Sunday. Mostert has been held out of practice for much of the week as he nurses an ankle issue that was aggravated on Christmas Eve, but McDaniel isn’t worried about his game-time status.
“[Mostert] is the guy I’m least worried about in life. I know him and his prerequisite toughness,” McDaniel noted on Friday.
Along the offensive line, right tackle Austin Jackson said that he feels great about his status for Sunday’s game as he looks to return from an oblique injury that held him out of Miami’s win over Dallas. He shed his red non-contact jersey for Friday’s practice, as did wideout Robbie Chosen who was working his way through the concussion protocol. Chosen is now cleared and good to go for Sunday.
Center Liam Eichenberg (calf/ankle) and left tackle Terron Armstead (knee/ankle/back), who both gutted through multiple injuries against Dallas last week, have been back at practice. Eichenberg is officially questionable, while Armstead is without a designation and will suit up.
MORE: The One Improvement the Miami Dolphins’ Defense Must Make To Stop Lamar Jackson
Right guard Robert Hunt (hamstring), who hasn’t played since Dec. 3, finally made it back to practice this week and is getting close to returning to action, though he’s officially listed as doubtful. McDaniel refrained from ruling him out for Sunday.
“We’re gonna work some more Rob Hunt today to see where he’s at. He got a little work yesterday and the day before, so that was kind of where we were at … We haven’t had any setbacks. We’ll see what is in store for today.”
On defense, the Dolphins are hoping to get elite safety Jevon Holland (knees) back from a combo of MCL injuries. McDaniel noted that he’s optimistic about Holland’s status but that the team would re-evaluate after Friday’s practice. Holland is officially questionable.
Returning Holland to the lineup would be a massive boon for a defense that’s about to face one of the league’s best QBs in MVP candidate Lamar Jackson.
All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey was added to the injury report on Friday with a knee issue, though the team hasn’t released any other details. Ramsey missed about half of the season with an MCL injury suffered during training camp — it’s unclear if this new ailment is related.
For the Ravens, dynamic rookie wideout Zay Flowers (calf) returned to practice on Friday after missing each of the previous two sessions. Stud safety Kyle Hamilton (knee) was absent after getting in a limited session on Thursday. Cornerback Brandon Stephens (ankle) missed his second straight practice.
Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens Week 17 Injury Report
Miami Dolphins
Out
- WR Jaylen Waddle (ankle)
Doubtful
- G Robert Hunt (hamstring)
Questionable
- G Lester Cotton (hip)
- C Liam Eichenberg (calf/ankle)
- S Jevon Holland (knees)
- CB Xavien Howard (hip)
- CB Jalen Ramsey (knee)
- OT Austin Jackson (oblique)
- RB Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle)
Baltimore Ravens
Out
- CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (concussion)
Questionable
- WR Zay Flowers (calf)
- S Kyle Hamilton (knee)
- LB Del’Shawn Phillips (shoulder)
- CB Brandon Stephens (ankle)
- G Kevin Zeitler (knee/quad)
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