The Miami Dolphins are in the midst of a push for the top seed in the AFC playoffs, but they may have to lock up that spot without one of their top skill-position players.
Receiver Jaylen Waddle exited Miami’s Christmas Eve win over the Dallas Cowboys with what was reported as a shin injury. But when he addressed the media on Monday, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel offered a more specific — and concerning — diagnosis.
The team believes Waddle has suffered a high-ankle sprain, though McDaniel said the wideout will have to undergo further testing before they can determine the severity and a potential timetable for his return, according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel says WR Jaylen Waddle’s shin injury from yesterday’s game is “looking more like a high ankle” today.
Miami will get further tests done to determine the severity
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) December 25, 2023
While we don’t know exactly when Waddle will be back on the field if it is truly a high-ankle sprain, it’s an injury that typically takes around four to six weeks to return from, though that can vary.
His loss will be softened by the fact that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa still has plenty of weapons on the roster, most notably star receiver Tyreek Hill, but it’s certainly something to monitor, especially with a huge matchup coming up next weekend against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens currently have a half-game lead in the AFC but face the San Francisco 49ers — winners of six in a row — on Monday night.
