This weekend, the Miami Dolphins’ offensive line will be a little thin.
Due to an ankle injury, Fins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will not play against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Waddle sprained his high ankle during Miami’s victory against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. In the game, he was only able to play 28 snaps and only managed to catch one ball for 50 yards before leaving.
The 25-year-old has had a strong season, catching 72 catches for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games, so this injury is a setback. He is the first receiver in team history to achieve three consecutive seasons with 1,000 or more yards receiving, and he has been Tua Tagovailoa’s second-favorite target behind Tyreek Hill.
With an 11-4 record, the Dolphins have already guaranteed a postseason spot, but they are still in the running for the top seed in the AFC, which is presently held by the 12-3 Ravens.
Waddle’s absence from the starting lineup means Cedrick Wilson Jr. will probably take over as wide receiver. In 13 games this season, the 28-year-old has caught 19 catches for 245 yards and two scores.
Against Baltimore, Braxton Berrios and Chase Claypool may also see increased playing time. While Robbie Chosen is still in the concussion protocol, he may be a possibility if cleared to participate.
Miami will win its first AFC East championship since 2008 if the Dolphins upset the Ravens on Sunday and the New England Patriots defeat the Buffalo Bills. The Fins will guarantee the top spot in the AFC and a first-round bye if they win their remaining two games of the campaign.
But Baltimore will seal the deal.
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After starting at the Pro Bowl, Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa anticipates a new contract during negotiations.
Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, thinks he will sign a contract extension with the organisation this offseason.
Before Pro Bowl practice on Friday, Tagovailoa told Pro Football Network’s Adam Beasley, “I believe that will happen, but I’m gonna let my agents, gonna let you know Chris [Grier], Mike [McDaniel], let those guys talk about that and let them move forward accordingly.”
There have been discussions between the two sides, according to Tagovailoa, the starting quarterback for the AFC in this year’s Pro Bowl Flag Football game, who spoke with ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques.
“There’s been communication,” he said to Louis-Jacques. “I think the thing with that right now is I’m just letting the team talk to my agent and let them work that out.”
The Dolphins activated Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option in 2023, therefore he now has one year remaining on his rookie contract.
It’s possible that Miami may let Tagovailoa’s rookie deal expire and then apply the franchise tag to him in 2025 or 2026. But it’s evident that both parties wish to resolve this issue in the long run.
During his news conference at the end of the season, Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier said in part, “…so the goal is to have him here long-term playing at a high level.” “That’s always the objective, and we’ll stay in touch with him during this offseason.”
In the last two years, Tagovailoa has excelled under head coach Mike McDaniel.
The former Alabama standout topped the NFL in quarterbacking yards per attempt in 2022.
His 4,624 throwing yards were first in the league in 2023. With 496 points at the end of the season, Miami was good for second place in the NFL.
Right now, it seems like a matter of when rather than if the two parties work things out. The question now is how much and for how long Tagovailoa will receive a long-term contract extension after doing well enough in previous years.
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