Two of Dolphins’ top rookies don’t play vs. Jets because of COVID protocols
Despite being activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday, Dolphins safety Jevon Holland was inactive for Sunday’s home game against the New York Jets.
The team on Sunday morning ruled him out for the game after previously listing him on Saturday as questionable to play with a non-injury related illness.
“We activated him on a chance that we might be able to get him back off the COVID list,” coach Brian Flores said after the game, a 31-24 Dolphins win. “We weren’t able to do that, so that’s why he wasn’t active.”
As part of the NFL’s updated return-to-play policies after a positive coronavirus test, teams can remove a player from the reserve/COVID-19 list before they’ve officially produced the required negative tests to clear protocols, with the hope that they will do so before kickoff.
Holland’s absence left the Dolphins without arguably their top defensive rookie and top offensive rookie Jaylen Waddle, who was not activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of the 4 p.m. Saturday deadline.
Safeties Brandon Jones and Eric Rowe filled in for Holland in the secondary, while cornerback Nik Needham also lined up as a safety for several snaps. The Dolphins elevated Sheldrick Redwine from the practice squad as a COVID-19 replacement.
Wide receiver Tommylee Lewis, signed to the practice squad last Monday, was elevated to the game-day roster and was the top return specialist with Holland and Waddle sidelined.
Running backs Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed, who returned from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday, are active. They and Duke Johnson, who was elevated from the practice squad, were the team’s top-three backs as the Dolphins ran for a season-high 183 yards.
Tight end Adam Shaheen, listed as questionable with a knee injury, was inactive and missed his third straight game. Offensive lineman Austin Jackson (illness) and safety Clayton Fejedelem (ankle), also listed as questionable, were active.
Defensive backs Trill Williams and Will Parks and defensive lineman John Jenkins were also inactive.
Big-man TD
Christian Wilkins had been begging, basically since the moment he got to the NFL, for the Dolphins to let him score touchdowns.
His first one in two years Sunday was worth the wait.
The 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive tackle, who was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, got in the end zone for the first time since 2019 in the fourth quarter and then he celebrated about as hard as any Miami player ever has.
He caught his 1-yard touchdown pass and jumped into the crowd. He did the worm in the end zone and made sure about a dozen of teammates were all there to revel with him.
Wilkins spent three years letting everyone know who he is and he put the full experience on display to celebrate a critical second-half touchdown against the rival Jets.
Wilkins lined up at fullback, ran a route into the flat and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa quickly lofted him a pass. Wilkins reeled it in and the moment he was really waiting for was finally here: He got celebrate.
Wilkins knocked over tight end Durham Smythe and ran to the wall in the back of the end zone. He leaped into the crowd, clearing the railing and winding up in the middle of a group of fans.
He was not done. Wilkins hopped back onto the field where his teammates were ready to greet him in the same way he likes to greet his offensive counterparts.
He knows he probably won’t get to celebrate too many touchdowns in his career, so he doesn’t want to waste any opportunities to get in on a dance. They didn’t want to waste an opportunity to celebrate with him.
This story was originally published December 19, 2021 at 9:15 AM.
