The Miami Dolphins knocked off the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday and appear to be a legitmate Super Bowl contender in the AFC.
Much of the Dolphins success has come from the combination of their explosive offense, anchored by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The running back duo of Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane have been fantastic, resulting in a dynamic offense that creates nightmares for opposing defensive coordinators.
As it stands, the Dolphins boast the No. 1 total offense in the NFL, averaging 411.5 yards per game (275.1 passing and 134 rushing), while putting up more than 30 points per outing.
Their defense has improved drastically as the season has progressed, making the Dolphins even scarier as the postseason inches closer. Their defense ranks No. 5 in the NFL with just two games to go in the regular season, giving up just 296 yards per game.
If the Dolphins are going to make a run toward the Super Bowl, they will have to have all their key contributors healthy.
Miami Dolphins Receive Negative News About Jaylen Waddle
The Miami Dolphins built up a 16-10 lead in the third quarter over the Dallas Cowboys, as Tua Tagovailoa had his offense driving to potentially put up more points.
On a second-and-10 play, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle received an end-around that went to the right side. As he was tackled, Waddle appeared to suffer a lower-body injury. He made it to the sideline but was clearly hampered by the injury.
After working with the training staff on the sideline, Waddle gingerly went back to the locker room at the conclusion of the scoring drive.
On Monday, multiple reports stated Jaylen Waddle is believed to be dealing with a high-ankle sprain and the team is gathering more information.
Depending on the severity of the injury, the recovery time could be anywhere from days to a month according to Hartford Hospital:
A low ankle sprain is usually caused by an inward twisting motion. It’s less serious than a high ankle sprain — most athletes will return anywhere from a few days to a month. Recovery from a high ankle sprain, often caused in football when a player plants a foot on the ground before an extreme outward twist of the foot, can take 4-6 weeks.
Severe high ankle sprains can take up to six months and might require surgery. An X-ray, CT scan or MRI can help determine if you have a high ankle sprain or possible fracture.
A cast, splint or brace and physical therapy could part of the recovery plan, depending on the injury’s severity.
Miami Dolphins Need Jaylen Waddle For Super Bowl Run
While the casual fan may brush off Waddle’s absence and assume Tyreek Hill can carry the load on the Dolphins offense, his loss for any period of time can’t be overstated.
First and foremost, Waddle could probably thrive as a No. 1 wideout in any other offense, and his presence alone forces defenses to deploy a defense that takes both speedy wide receivers into account so they aren’t able to double Hill.
Jaylen Waddle himself is one of the more underrated weapons on the Miami Dolphins 2023 roster. There’s no arguing Hill is a dynamic, one-of-a-kind player, but Waddle has put together an impressive season so far as well.
He currently has 72 receptions for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns, while averaging a staggering 14.1 yards per reception.
The Miami Dolphins have secured a playoff spot, but have two critical matchups against the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills that could determine their seeding in the postseason. Dolphins fans will be crossing their fingers Waddle’s injury isn’t too bad and he will be back sooner rather than later.