MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — If you were late to Miami Dolphins practice Thursday, you missed Jaylen Waddle.
The Dolphins’ WR2, in workout clothes, beelined to the weight room when reporters arrived for the portion of practice open to reporters and did not reemerge.
So if Waddle (ankle) is unable to practice on Thursday, what confidence do the Dolphins have he’ll play Sunday?
Miami Dolphins Practice Report
Waddle was one of five Dolphins not spotted Thursday. The others were WR Tyreek Hill (personal), RB Raheem Mostert (ankle), LB Bradley Chubb (knee), and CB Xavien Howard (foot).
OT Terron Armstead (knee/back/ankle) and DT Zach Sieler (illness) were back in uniform and practicing Thursday after sitting out Wednesday.
Without Hill and Waddle, the Dolphins’ receiving corps was lean: Braxton Berrios, Robbie Chosen, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Chase Claypool, and River Cracraft on the active roster; Anthony Schwartz, Braylon Sanders, and Freddie Swain on the practice squad.
Waddle suffered a high ankle sprain in the Cowboys game and was unable to play against the Ravens. The Dolphins were hopeful he could practice in some capacity Thursday, but if he did, it was after the media dispersed.
Even if Waddle — who was spotted walking without a boot or a significant limp in the Dolphins’ locker room Thursday — does play against the Bills, he won’t be 100%. That prompted us to ask Dolphins offensive Frank Smith Thursday if 80% of Waddle is better than 100% of a backup.
“I mean, it’s hard to put the exact percentages on performance and stuff like that,” Smith said.
MORE: Miami Dolphins Depth Chart
“When guys feel when they’re good enough to play, going through the process with our training room and, you know, understand the game plan, and can execute it, we feel fully confident in those guys being able to execute.
“It’s not that. It’s like you have a process to get the players ready for the game for they feel confident, they feel healthy enough to go, and when guys feel good enough to go, they can make an impact and do their job.”
As for the Dolphins’ offensive line, guard Rob Hunt has missed six of the last eight games with a hamstring injury but expressed optimism that he will play Sunday.
Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins Injury Report
Dolphins
Did Not Practice
- WR Tyreek Hill (ankle/personal)
- LB Bradley Chubb (knee)
- CB Xavien Howard (foot)
- RB Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle)
- WR Jaylen Waddle (ankle)
Limited
- OT Terron Armstead (knee/ankle/back)
- RB De’Von Achane (toe/ribs)
- LB Jerome Baker (knee)
- OL Lester Cotton (hip)
- OL Liam Eichenberg (calf/ankle)
- S Jevon Holland (knees)
- OL Robert Hunt (hamstring)
- OL Austin Jackson (oblique)
- LB David Long Jr. (knee)
Full
- CB Jalen Ramsey (knee)
- QB Tua Tagovailoa (quad/left shoulder)
- DT Zach Sieler (illness)
- QB Mike White (shoulder)
Bills
Did Not Practice
- None
Limited
- S Damar Hamlin (shoulder)
Full
- DE Leonard Floyd (rib/rest)
- EDGE Von Miller (vet rest)
- QB Josh Allen (neck/right finger)
- S Micah Hyde (neck)
