When the Miami Dolphins signed WR Will Fuller to a one-year contract, the hope was that he would be a difference-maker to their offense, but as is often the case, injury has derailed the 2021 season for the speedy receiver. With Fuller missing the Dolphins’ Thursday Night Football matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, when will we see the receiver back on the field?
Will Fuller’s finger injury has kept him out since Week 4
It has been a rough season for Fuller in terms of injury, even by his own standards. Since signing with the Dolphins, Fuller has had four documented injuries. He suffered a foot injury in the offseason, then dealt with chest and elbow injuries before heading into the Week 4 game, where he fractured his finger and was placed on the IR.
While Fuller is no stranger to injury in his career, this is the first time he has had four documented injuries in his career, according to draftsharks.com.
These injuries, combined with a personal issue, have meant that Fuller has managed to play just two games for the Dolphins this season. Previously, his worst season in terms of injury was 2018, when Fuller played seven games for the Houston Texans.
When Brian Flores announced Monday that Fuller would miss his sixth consecutive game, he did not indicate when Fuller might return. However, on Tuesday, Flores stated that Fuller had received “favorable news the last couple of days” regarding his recovery. That opens the door for Fuller to potentially return to the field in Week 11 against the Jets.
Fuller would add another dimension to the Dolphins’ offense
The ideal situation when the Dolphins added Fuller in free agency was that his ability to make plays down the field would perfectly complement this offense. The combination of DeVante Parker and Preston Williams are deep threats but more in contested-catch situations. The hope was that Fuller would give QB Tua Tagovailoa additional separation and make throws down the field an easier proposition for the second-year QB.
So far, that has not worked out for the Dolphins. Miami’s seen two games out of Fuller, and he has played just 65 snaps. However, if they can get him back on the field to end the season, it could allow them to showcase what this offense can do. It could also allow them to give Tua the best opportunity to demonstrate he was worth the draft capital.
The offseason gamble has not paid off for the receiver
The offseason was not kind to Fuller. The deep-threat receiver was suspended to end the 2020 season. A market for his talents did not emerge as many expected. The hope was that a season in Miami would allow him to head into the 2021 offseason with his stock higher and with a vibrant market available to cash in on.
Unfortunately, missing more than half of the season will not help Fuller. Even if he returns for the final seven games of the season, the same questions remain. Can Fuller consistently stay on the field and give a team a full season? So far, the answer is no. That will naturally cap his ceiling in terms of potential earnings as a free agent.