Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel predicted that Jaylen Waddle would start against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16. On Thursday, that optimism was said to have shifted.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Waddle could miss the rest of the regular season due to a high-ankle sprain. McDaniel appeared to refute that claim later in the day, saying Waddle’s injury was not “overly severe” and the Dolphins weren’t ready to declare him out for Sunday.
Waddle’s trajectory in the Dolphins camp deflated Thursday after the star wide receiver missed his second straight practice. Per Adam Schefter with ESPN, Waddle is expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Ravens.
The Dolphins’ game versus the Ravens might determine which team finishes first in the AFC following Week 18. While the Dolphins would prefer Waddle to play in Sunday’s crucial game, they understand that prolonging the injury through the regular season could hurt the offense in the playoffs in a few weeks.