Dolphins activate one star rookie from COVID list, but another will miss game vs. Jets
Dolphins safety Jevon Holland was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday and is eligible to play in Sunday’s home game against the New York Jets.
The team listed Holland as questionable with a non-injury related illness. Holland was sidelined by coronavirus protocols on Monday, one of six Dolphins in the past week-plus to land on the list amid a league-wide surge in coronavirus cases.
While Holland is available to play in a must-win game for the 6-7 Dolphins, rookie wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was not activated ahead of the 4 p.m. Saturday deadline and will miss his first game of the season. Waddle, who leads the team in receptions and receiving yards, landed on the list Thursday.
The Dolphins also didn’t activate running backs Phillip Lindsay and Gerrid Doaks from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed, who returned from coronavirus protocols on Friday, and Duke Johnson, elevated from the practice squad, will be the team’s top running backs Sunday.
The Dolphins also activated center Greg Mancz from injured reserve and elevated wide receiver Tommylee Lewis from the pratice squad. Mancz, who missed the past four games with a knee injury, is expected to back up Michael Deiter. Lewis, signed to the practice squad Monday, has 21 career receptions for 257 yards. With Waddle out, Lewis is also an option to return kickoffs and punts. He’s returned 27 kickoffs and 45 punts, averaging 22.9 yards and 9 yards, respectively.
Linebacker suspended
Dolphins linebacker Darius Hodge has been suspended two games without pay for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. He’ll be eligible to return on Tuesday, Dec. 28, following the team’s Week 16 game against the New Orleans Saints.
Hodge, claimed off waivers in early November, has yet to appear in a game for the Dolphins this season. The undrafted rookie was previously with the Cincinnati Bengals, playing in four games.
This story was originally published December 18, 2021 at 4:15 PM.