Miami Dolphins’ Star Wide Receiver Jaylen Waddle Suffers Apparent Injury during Joint Practice with Atlanta Falcons
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle left Wednesday’s joint practice against the Atlanta Falcons with an apparent injury. During drills, Waddle made a catch and went down, grabbing at the right side of his body. Fortunately, he was able to walk off the practice field under his own power after being down for about five minutes.
Waddle has been performing exceptionally well during training camp, drawing praise from his teammates and coaches. Last season, he recorded an impressive 75 receptions and 1,356 yards receiving, surpassing 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season. His contributions to the team have been invaluable, making this injury particularly disheartening for the Dolphins.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa expressed his hope that Waddle’s injury is not severe and that he will recover quickly. Tagovailoa also highlighted Waddle’s impressive performance throughout camp, describing him as one of the standout players on the team. Losing a player of Waddle’s caliber would undoubtedly be a blow to the Dolphins’ offensive capabilities.
This was the second joint practice between the Dolphins and the Falcons in preparation for their upcoming preseason game. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has not yet announced whether Tagovailoa or other starters will be playing in the opener.
As for the Falcons, they are looking forward to potentially seeing their first-round rookie running back, Bijan Robinson, make his NFL debut.
The Dolphins were determined to have a better practice session after an average one the previous day. McDaniel emphasized the need for purposeful practice and addressed areas that require improvement, such as procedural penalties like false starts.
According to cornerback Kader Kohou, the defense started slowly but picked up the pace towards the end of Wednesday’s practice. The defense managed to record a couple of sacks, including one on Desmond Ridder, and had a couple of interceptions.
Despite the challenges faced during practice, Tagovailoa acknowledged the importance of joint sessions and explained that they provide valuable opportunities for growth and learning.
The practice concluded with a touchdown pass from Dolphins backup quarterback Skylar Thompson to rookie running back De’Von Achane.
In other news, Falcons coach Arthur Smith confirmed that rookie cornerback Clark Phillips III is doing well after leaving Tuesday’s practice early due to a leg injury. Additionally, McDaniel provided an update on receiver Braylon Sander’s lower body injury, stating that no structural damage was found. Sander is expected to return next week.
Overall, the Dolphins’ training camp has been filled with impressive performances, including Waddle’s standout showing. Losing him to injury would undoubtedly be a setback for the team, but they will remain optimistic and hope for his swift recovery. The joint practices with the Falcons have provided valuable learning opportunities for both teams as they gear up for the preseason games ahead.
