Standout rookie wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is the latest to land on the Miami Dolphins’ reserve/COVID-19 list.
Waddle became the fifth Dolphin unavailable due to COVID on Thursday after running backs Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed and Phillip Lindsay and safety Jevon Holland all were placed on the list within the past week. On top of the five on the active roster, practice squad running back Gerrid Doaks also was placed on the COVID list on Thursday afternoon.
“We are praying for Jaylen and hope that he has a speedy recovery. I’m not sure how he’s feeling just with the virus and everything like that,” said fellow wide receiver Isaiah Ford, who could see increased snaps if Waddle can’t play Sunday against the New York Jets. “It’s a really big opportunity for a lot of the other guys. We pride ourselves on having that next-man-up approach, and it’s going to take all of us to cover Jaylen’s role, as well as the running backs, whoever’s in there. It’s going to take a full team approach.”
With six players on the COVID list, the Dolphins voluntarily began taking added measures on Thursday, but then the NFL moved to stricter protocols for all teams.
Among the league’s updated procedures: Masking regardless of vaccination status, remote or outdoor meetings, eliminating in-person meals and no outside visitors while on team travel.
“Throughout the pandemic we have continuously evolved our protocols to meet our goal of advancing the safety of the players, coaches and staff,” the NFL statement said. “The changes we are making [Thursday] aim to address the increase in cases and the advent of the Omicron variant.”
The NFL also continues to “strongly encourage” booster shots as the most effective protection and will adjust the return-to-participation requirements for players who have recovered from COVID-19.
“All of these changes are grounded in our data and science-backed approach, with safety our number-one goal for the entire NFL community,” the statement said
Among NFL teams that were already under enhanced protocols before the update: Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings and Washington Football Team.
Before the league announcement, Miami already began taking a hybrid approach Thursday where the only thing being done at team facilities is practice. Meetings will be held virtually, and position group work is limited to four people spread out in a room.
The Dolphins also moved away from in-person media interviews as of Thursday. The team will instead hold web conferences with reporters.
The changes are indefinite and come as the NFL has seen more than 100 reported positive coronavirus cases this week among players across the league. The Dolphins (6-7) host the Jets (3-10) in a 1 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
Waddle is on pace for an NFL rookie receptions record with 86 for 849 yards and four touchdowns. The Dolphins recently brought fellow wideout DeVante Parker back from injury and have Albert Wilson, Mack Hollins, Preston Williams and Ford as other receivers on the active roster.
With three running backs possibly out, Duke Johnson is the lone Dolphins running back on the active roster as of Thursday. Miami also hopes Malcolm Brown can return from injured reserve for a quadriceps injury. With Doaks no longer available off the practice squad, Dexter Williams has spent this week there after being signed Monday, and the Dolphins announced on Thursday the signing of fellow back Jordan Scarlett.
Scarlett, a Fort Lauderdale native who played in high school at St. Thomas Aquinas and college at Florida, spent the past training camp with Miami. He had four carries for 9 yards in 2019 with the Carolina Panthers and also was on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad in 2020.
It’s the second straight day the Dolphins added a former St. Thomas Aquinas player after signing former Las Vegas Raiders first-round pick, cornerback Damon Arnette, to the practice squad on Wednesday. Arnette was released by Las Vegas in November following a viral video that showed him brandishing a gun threatening to kill someone while looking into a camera.
Safety Eric Rowe will likely play a large role in . Rowe was already starting for opposite safety Brandon Jones the past two games, and Jones could be in line to return from his elbow injury.
Offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg indicated on Thursday that players who are recovering from COVID are staying in a hotel.
Jones feels ready
While the Dolphins could be without Holland at free safety, starting strong safety Brandon Jones said Thursday over web conference that he thinks he’ll be ready to play on Sunday against the Jets with his elbow injury.
Jones also felt he would be good to go ahead of the Giants game on Dec. 5, but the ailment kept him out for a second straight game.
“I’m still taking the same approach I did last week,” said Jones, who also has been dealing with an ankle injury. “Obviously, with the bye week and stuff, I feel really good. The ankle and elbow feels really good. It’s kind of taking the same approach, same routine as I’ve always done and just see how I feel on Sunday.”
Jones was listed as a limited participant at the team’s Wednesday practice and Thursday walkthrough, according to the injury report.
Jones said of potentially playing without Holland: “It will always be tough, especially with a guy like Jevon, just how vocal he is and just how much of a great player he is on the field. Even though he’s young, just being able to communicate and get people lined up, he’s done a tremendous job of that this year, so that’ll be pretty hard.”
Other updates
Dolphins receiver DeVante Parker was back at the Thursday walkthrough after he took a veteran rest day for Wednesday’s drills.
Tight end Hunter Long was also back after missing Wednesday drills with a non-COVID-related illness. He was listed as limited on Thursday.
Offensive lineman Austin Jackson popped up on the Thursday injury report as limited due to illness, as did safety Clayton Fejedelem but due to an ankle injury. Tight end Adam Shaheen (knee) remained limited on Thursday.
