The Miami Dolphins are set to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs. Despite having a chance to win the AFC East and secure the No. 2 seed, the Dolphins finished at No. 6 after losing to the Buffalo Bills.
One of the reasons was that Jaylen Waddle, one of their key players, was injured and didn’t play in the last two games. Now, the team is preparing for another crucial game and the participation of Jaylen Waddle is crucial.
Is Jaylen Waddle going to play against Chiefs?
Jaylen Waddle got injured in Week 16 game when he was tackled near his left ankle. He tried to continue playing but because of discomfort, he went to the dressing room. Since then, he hasn’t played.
The WR was estimated to be a limited practice participant if the team had practiced on Tuesday. However, the team didn’t practice.
The game against the Chiefs is on Saturday, so now the team will have two days to practice. The coach of the team, Mike McDaniel expressed optimism about Jaylen Waddle playing in the upcoming game.
The coach, Mike McDaniel, mentioned that Waddle pushed to play in Week 18 but was advised against it by the medical staff. He suggested the hope that the WR would soon return to the field.
This week’s rest will give him more time to recover and mentally prepare himself to play again. Waddle has missed the last two games due to an ankle injury but played 14 games during the season, amassing 72 receptions, 1,014 yards, and four touchdowns. His presence in the game will be crucial for the Dolphins.
Key players expected to miss Dolphins vs Chiefs clash
Many key players for both the Dolphins and the Chiefs are injured. Four Dolphins players were expected to miss practice: Terron Armstead, Jevon Holland, Xavien Howard, and DeShon Elliott. Coach McDaniel ruled out Howard for the wild-card round, and Elliott played despite a calf injury in the regular-season finale.
Other players, including Raheem Mostert, Tyreek Hill, Jalen Ramsey, De’Von Achane, and Liam Eichenberg, would have been limited in practice. The Dolphins are dealing with injuries to key players on both offense and defense, making their preparation crucial for the playoff matchup against the Chiefs.
Among Chiefs players, offensive tackle Wanya Morris and wide receiver Justyn Ross were sidelined in Tuesday’s practice. Starters Donovan Smith and L’Jarius Sneed were limited, along with wide receiver Kadarius Toney, for various injuries.
This highly anticipated game will kick off at 8 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Saturday, Jan. 13.
