MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle practiced in full Wednesday, as coach Mike McDaniel said he would and as he was officially listed on the team’s injury report.
The star wide receiver was still in concussion protocol at the start of the day, but results of exams following Wednesday’s drills will determine whether Waddle is cleared entirely from protocol ahead of Sunday’s AFC East showdown with the Buffalo Bills.
“Upon the results of that (practice), we’ll officially or unofficially clear him from the protocol,” McDaniel said before Waddle was later seen at practice Wednesday afternoon, no longer wearing a red, no-contact jersey.
Waddle missed last Sunday’s 70-20 win over the Denver Broncos after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit in the Sept. 17 victory over the New England Patriots.
In other injury news, McDaniel continued to call outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips (oblique) and center Connor Williams (groin) day to day while noting they will not participate in Wednesday’s practice. Indeed, neither were seen at the session and they went down as non-participants on the injury report.
“We’ll press forward,” McDaniel said, “and as we get information back, we’ll apply the information moving forward.”
If Phillips is out, the Dolphins can count on Andrew Van Ginkel opposite Bradley Chubb. Van Ginkel has been stellar both as a rotational linebacker that can play outside and inside, as well as two instances where he filled in for Phillips.
If Williams can’t play in Orchard Park, the Dolphins will turn to backup center Liam Eichenberg, who played 30 offensive snaps in place of Williams against Denver.
“He rose to the challenge in a very necessary way,” McDaniel said of Eichenberg against Denver.
“There’s stuff that he can improve on, for sure, but I was happy with how the game wasn’t too big for him. He executed his assignments, made sure there was a lot of appropriately declared run and pass plays when he was in, and that starts and ends with the center. It was good to see him get some action.”
Also not participating at Wednesday drills was left tackle Terron Armstead after he successfully made it through Sunday’s win in his season debut through ankle, knee and back ailments.
McDaniel said running back Salvon Ahmed is “progressing” from his groin injury that kept him out of the Broncos game. He was at practice without a red jersey and listed as limited.
The Dolphins coach said of wide receiver River Cracraft, who left the game with a right shoulder injury and missed Wednesday’s drills, that injured reserve, is a possibility that’s neither a certainty nor out of the question.
“He will do whatever it takes to be back as fast as possible,” McDaniel said.
Along with Cracraft, fellow wide receiver Erik Ezukanma missed practice due to a neck injury. Tight ends Durham Smythe (hamstring), Tyler Kroft (back) and safety DeShon Elliott (ankle/groin) were limited in practice. Cornerback Eli Apple practiced in full as he deals with a neck injury and continues to be evaluated for a concussion.
For the Bills on Wednesday, safeties Micah Hyde (hamstring) and Jordan Poyer (knee), defensive end Leonard Floyd (ankle), offensive lineman Ryan Bates (ankle) and defensive back Siran Neal (ankle) did not participate in practice. Cornerback Taron Johnson (hip) was limited.
Achane wins Player of the Week
For two of the three weeks thus far in the NFL season, the AFC Offensive Player of the Week has come from the Dolphins.
Rookie running back De’Von Achane won it, the NFL announced Wednesday, for his 203 rushing yards and four total touchdowns in Sunday’s historic mauling of the Broncos in Miami’s home opener.
Achane had his breakout performance in just his second NFL game after being a healthy inactive Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The award for the rookie out of Texas A&M comes after Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took home the same honor in that season opener against the Chargers. Sunday against Denver, Achane caught two of Tagovailoa’s four touchdown passes. He also had a 67-yard burst as one of his two rushing touchdowns on 18 carries.
Achane is the first Dolphins running back to win the weekly award since Jay Ajayi did it three times in 2016. His 203 rushing yards established a new rookie rushing record for Miami.
Along with Tagovailoa, fellow Dolphins tailback Raheem Mostert was in the running for the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Mostert also had four touchdowns — three rushing, one receiving — to go with 82 rushing yards and 60 receiving.
Between Tagovailoa and Achane, Bills quarterback Josh Allen won the award in Week 2. Buffalo linebacker Terrel Bernard won the Week 3 Defensive Player of the Week. The Dolphins and Bills face off Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
Achane also won the Week 3 FedEx Ground Player of the Week, while Tagovailoa received the FedEx Air honor.
The Dolphins’ duo is the first pair of teammates to sweep the two awards since Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry did it for the Tennessee Titans in Week 6 of 2020.
Sun Sentinel Dolphins columnist Chris Perkins contributed to this report.
