Receiver Jaylen Waddle finishes Bucs game despite rib injury
Miami Dolphins receiver left Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first quarter because of a rib injury he suffered on the team’s first drive.
Waddle, who entered the game 90 yards from his fourth 1,000 yard season in his six years, grabbed his right rib cage at the end of a 7-yard end-around.
He sat out the rest of the first half, but the team’s top weapon in the passing game, who came into Sunday’s contest having contributed 910 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 64 receptions, and 28 yards on two carries in the 16 games he played in 2025, played sparingly in the second half.
He came onto the field in critical situations, like a third down in the third quarter, where he dropped a pass.
When Waddle wasn’t in the game the Dolphins were forced to lean on tight ends Darren Waller, Julian Hill and Greg Dulcich, and receivers Malik and Tahj Washington, Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Theo Wease Jr.
Wease, an undrafted rookie who has played for the Dolphins the past two games after being called up from the practice squad, caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from fellow rookie Quinn Ewers in the first quarter. That score was the pair’s first NFL touchdown each.
If Waddle broke his ribs it is possible that his season is over because of the pain associated with playing with broken ribs, which would likely require a flack jacket. Broken ribs typically take a at least month to heal, and the Dolphins only have next week’s season finale against the New England Patriots, which will be played on the road.
Waddle would be the second starting receiver to suffer a serious injury this season. Tyreek Hill, a four-time All Pro receiver, suffered a gruesome left knee injury in Miami’s late September victory over the New York Jets and was placed on injured reserve the very next week.
Also sidelined by injury is receiver and return specialist Dee Eskridge, who was made inactive after sitting out the entire week of practice because of a toe injury.
This story was originally published December 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM.
