Jaylen Waddle ties a Jerry Rice record in Dolphins’ Monday Night Football win vs. Saints
Jaylen Waddle joined some truly elite company in the Miami Dolphins’ 20-3 win against the New Orleans Saints on Monday at the Caesars Superdome.
With 10 catches, Waddle tied Jerry Rice’s record for the most receptions by a rookie ever on “Monday Night Football.”
Waddle is on a record-setting pace and put together another big outing to beat the Saints in New Orleans. The wide receiver had 10 catches for 92 yards and a touchdown, set the Dolphins’ rookie record for receiving yards and kept himself on pace to break the NFL single-season record for catches by a rookie.
Waddle, who msised Miami’s win against the New York Jets on Dec. 19 after he tested positive for COVID-19, returned to the lineup Monday and immediately returned to his role as go-to target for Tua Tagovailoa. The quarterback completed a pair of passes to him on the Dolphins’ opening drive, then two more later in the first quarter. On Miami’s final drive before halftime, Waddle reeled in three more catches to pass former wide receiver Chris Chambers for the most receiving yards by a rookie in franchise history. He already had the franchise record for catches by a rookie in a single season.
The 23-year-old wideout is now up to 96 catches for 941 yards, putting him on pace for 110 catches and 1,075 yards. Anquan Boldin has the single-season rookie record for catches with 101, set in 2003 with the Arizona Cardinals. Waddle moved up to second on the rookie catches list Monday.
Dolphins make COVID-19 replacements
The Dolphins elevated offensive tackles Roderick Johnson and Adam Pankey, and running back Jordan Scarlett as COVID-19 replacements for Monday night’s road game against the New Orleans Saints.
The call-ups along the offensive line give the Dolphins eight linemen available for the game and will allow the team to suit up 48 players. NFL rules allow teams to dress 48 players on game day if eight offensive linemen are active.
Three offensive linemen, all reserves, remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list and will miss Monday’s game: Robert Jones, Greg Mancz and Solomon Kindley.
Scarlett’s elevation gives the Dolphins four running backs active, along with Myles Gaskin, Duke Johnson, and Phillip Lindsay.
The Dolphins opted to make Scarlett active over Salvon Ahmed, who was active last week against the New York Jets but did not play a snap. The team also deactivated cornerback Trill Williams and defensive lineman John Jenkins.
Monday’s call-ups bring the total to five Dolphins elevated as COVID-19 replacements: Johnson, Pankey, Scarlett, wide receiver Tommylee Lewis and center Cameron Tom.
Along with the offensive linemen sidelined, four additional players will miss Monday’s game because of coronavirus protocols: cornerback Justin Coleman, tight end Cethan Carter, linebacker Duke Riley and wide receiver Albert Wilson. Wideout Lynn Bowden is also on the reserve/COVID-19 list but he is on injured reserve and out for the season.
The Dolphins also placed wide receiver Allen Hurns on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Hurns is on injured reserve and out for the season.
For the Saints, 21 players remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Monday night’s game. Four assistants will also be sidelined by coronavirus protocols and unavailable to coach. Starting offensive tackle Terron Armstead is also inactive because of a knee injury, leaving New Orleans without both of their starting tackles. Ryan Ramczyk is on the reserve/COVID-19 list and out Monday.
This story was originally published December 27, 2021 at 4:24 PM.
