Jaylen Waddle injury update: Mike McDaniel offers encouraging news on Dolphins WR

Miami Dolphins (6-8) head coach Mike McDaniel said Monday that receiver Jaylen Waddle‘s knee injury is not considered major and won’t require surgery.

Waddle’s status for this Sunday’s Week 16 home game against the San Francisco 49ers (6-8) is up in the air, however, with McDaniel declaring him “day-to-day.”

“Not major, not surgery related,” McDaniel said. “But [Waddle is] in question for this week. Kind of day-to-day but avoided anything serious.”

Waddle, 26, limped off the field in the second quarter of Sunday’s 20-12 Week 15 road defeat to the Houston Texans (9-5) after his leg was rolled up on from behind while blocking for running back De’Von Achane. Initially ruled questionable to return, Waddle spent the remainder of the afternoon watching from the sideline. Waddle did not get on the stat sheet before leaving the game.

Dolphins hopeful to get Jaylen Waddle back in Week 16

Waddle struggled to produce in the early part of the season without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throwing him the football but has come on of late. He went for 144 yards on eight catches in Week 12 against the New England Patriots (3-11) and tallied 12 receptions for 99 yards in the Week 14 win over the New York Jets (4-10). Waddle has 54 catches for 700 yards and two touchdowns this season, on pace to finish south of 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.

Miami remains on the outside looking in of the AFC playoff picture after its latest loss to Houston. The Dolphins have just a 6% chance of making the playoffs with three games remaining in the regular season.