Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has ruled out wide receiver Jaylen Waddle for the team’s pivotal Week 17 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, via the Dolphins’ official YouTube account.
Waddle is dealing with a high-ankle sprain that he suffered during his club’s win over the Dallas Cowboys last weekend. He logged one 50-yard catch in the victory.
The star wide out’s status for this Sunday had been in question all week, but now that he is officially not suiting up, it absolutely changes things for the Dolphins, who will be facing one of the NFL’s best defenses in a game that could ultimately determine who secures home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
Waddle has hauled in 72 receptions for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns this season.
The 25-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Alabama, was selected by Miami with the sixth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He burst on to the scene during his rookie campaign, catching 104 passes for 1,015 yards and six scores. Then, last year, Waddle was even better, snaring 75 balls for 1,356 yards while reaching the end zone eight times. He flashed significant big-play ability, leading the league with 18.1 yards per reception.
Along with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle has helped comprise arguably the most lethal wide receiver tandem in football.
Hill himself has dealt with injury issues recently, as he missed the Dolphins’ Week 15 victory over the New York Jets thanks to an ankle injury he sustained in a loss to the Tennessee Titans the week prior. However, Hill returned to the field against the Cowboys and totaled nine grabs for 99 yards.
The Dolphins have already clinched a playoff berth, marking the first time that the franchise has made back-to-back trips to the postseason since the 2001-02 campaign. Miami has also not won a playoff game since January 2001.
However, there is still work left to do for the Dolphins, as the AFC East division title hangs in the balance. They are two games ahead of the Buffalo Bills, but if they lose to the Ravens and the Bills defeat the New England Patriots this weekend, Week 18 will represent a winner-take-all game for the division between the two teams in South Beach.
Of course, Miami is also fighting for the No. 1 seed in the conference. The Ravens currently have the best record at 12-3, but if the Dolphins—who are 11-4—can manage to beat them, they would own the tiebreaker.
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