Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle diagnosed with high ankle sprain, rest of season in doubt

The Miami Dolphins recently had to navigate through the injury of star wide receiver Tyreek Hill. However, following their battle against the NFC’s Dallas Cowboys, resulting in a narrow 22-20 victory, Miami finds themselves with another significant injury concern; only this time, it’s their other speedy wide receiver, Jaylen Waddle, whom the training staff is concerned with.

On Sunday, in the Dolphins’ home victory over the Cowboys, Waddle suffered a leg injury, believed initially to be a shin injury. It was later revealed to be an ankle sprain. On Monday, Christmas Day, head coach Mike McDaniel announced Waddle is dealing with a high ankle sprain, which will likely take a significant amount of time to heal. Thus, the injury puts the former Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver’s status for Miami’s final two games of the season in serious jeopardy.

The injury, which occurred in the third quarter, along with the Cowboys’ defense, was able to keep Waddle in check for much of the game. The third-year wide receiver and former No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft finished the night with just one reception on four targets for 50 yards to go along with one carry for two yards. Hill was Miami’s most impactful receiver in his return from injury, hauling in nine of his 14 targets for 99 yards.

Cause for concern with Waddle’s ankle sprain

High ankle sprains are a problematic injury in sports, especially in football. Recovery from this injury typically takes a few weeks for a player to recover from, but that doesn’t mean they are 100 percent ready to go.

As far as treatment for the injury goes, it can be as simple as rest and limited mobility, or in the more significant situations, require a medical procedure like the Tightrope surgery Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett recently underwent.

The good news for Waddle and the Miami Dolphins is that their victory over Dallas in Week 16 guarantees them a spot in this year’s playoff field. However, the work is not done for Miami, as the Dolphins still have a chance at locking up the top seed in the AFC over the Baltimore Ravens. Should the Ravens lose two of their three remaining games (the Ravens still have to play their Week 16 matchup, a Monday night contest against the San Francisco 49ers), and the Dolphins win out, they will earn the top seed in the AFC. And Miami has a chance to guarantee one of those two losses as the two franchises will face off on New Year’s Eve in Baltimore.