(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Miami Dolphins already know they won’t have speedy wide receiver Jaylen Waddle for their Week 17 match against the Baltimore Ravens after he suffered a high ankle sprain this past week and was ruled out for the game earlier this week.
But with the Dolphins locked into the postseason, Waddle’s status for the playoffs might be more important than if he can play the team’s Week 18 contest against the Buffalo Bills.
Ankle sprains are a bit tricky, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that he expects Waddle to return in time to play in the postseason.
From @NFLGameDay: #Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle (high-ankle) is expected back for the playoffs, while we break down last night’s controversial ending. pic.twitter.com/zagZKT4863
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 31, 2023
What’s interesting is how the Dolphins play this week could determine if they have a shot at the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
A win over Baltimore this week puts them on a path to take the No. 1 seed away from the Ravens, but only if they also win next week against Buffalo.
If that happens and Waddle also misses Week 18, that would give the wideout another free week off to help him get healthy for the Dolphins’ Super Bowl push.
But that path is harder than it looks because of how well the Ravens and Bills have played in recent weeks: Baltimore just crushed the San Francisco 49ers and the Bills won three consecutive games before their Week 17 match against the New England Patriots.
Waddle’s presence would surely help Miami’s chances to steal the No. 1 seed, but the team would rather him be healthy for the playoffs than play hurt.
At the very least, though, it sounds like the injury isn’t serious enough to keep Waddle out longer than two weeks.
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