Dolphins’ McDaniel updates Waddle, left guard, Claypool and more before bye starts
The Dolphins seem inclined to allow Lester Cotton and Liam Eichenberg to compete at left guard, with Robert Jones out indefinitely with a knee injury and starter Isaiah Wynn not expected back anytime soon, if at all.
Jones does not need surgery after sustaining a hyperextended left knee during Sunday’s game against Kansas City. “It will take a little bit of time but it’s a week-to-week deal,” coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday.
[Update: Jones was spotted in the locker room on crutches and with a compression sleeve on his left leg.]
As for Wynn, who played very well as a starter before sustaining a quadriceps injury against Philadelphia, it doesn’t appear as if the Dolphins are counting on a return this season. He faces a “long journey,” McDaniel said, while not totally ruling out a return.
McDaniel suggested left guard would be a competition; Cotton and Eichenberg are the candidates with Jones sidelined.
Cotton played left guard against Philadelphia and New England after Wynn’s injury and started at right guard in Robert Hunt’s absence against Kansas City.
Eichenberg replaced the injured Jones at left guard for the final 14 offensive plays against Kansas City.
Cotton permitted four pressures and a sack on Sunday.
Eichenberg allowed one pressure in his eight pass-blocking snaps on Sunday; he started 10 games at left guard last season before injuries sidelined him most of the final 2 1/2 months. Eichenberg started four games at center during Connor Williams’ recent absence due to a groin injury.
“Allowing those guys to compete and not putting an absolute on that position kind of fits us,” McDaniel said. “We have several capable players. We will allow the players to shape the direction we go at that position.”
McDaniel said backup tackle Kendall Lamm “has the capability” to play left guard, but “it’s not something we’re entering now as far as immediate thought process.”
Hunt, who missed the Kansas City game with a hamstring injury, is progressing and possibly might be able to play Nov. 19 against visiting Las Vegas, which is the Dolphins’ next game after their bye.
If Hunt is unable to play against the Raiders, then Cotton and Eichenberg likely would both start at guard.
▪ McDaniel said receiver Jaylen Waddle, who played through a left knee injury Sunday, is “definitely sore. We will be measured with that. He did a great job battling for his teammates. There was competitiveness that really drove him.
“We gave him an end around on the fourth, fifth play of the game and he was making clear to me on the sidelines to still call that, that he wanted the ball. He’s in a good spot but will make sure we don’t do any harm to him moving forward. He’s had to battle injuries unfortunately all season. We will utilize this bye week to make sure he’s fully healthy.”
▪ The Dolphins must active receiver River Cracraft by Nov. 15 for him to be eligible to play this season. McDaniel suggested he will be activated.
“He has had a couple good weeks of practice, hasn’t had any setbacks,” McDaniel said of Cracraft’s shoulder injury. “He’s champing at the bit” to return.
THIS AND THAT
▪ McDaniel, on receiver Chase Claypool, who has only one reception since being acquired but is playing 15 to 20 snaps a game on offense and regularly on special teams: “He’s growing immensely. He’s had an important role and done well with that. To his credit, he has been 100 percent all in to this team. His teammates have embraced him.”
▪ The Dolphins re-signed rookie defensive tackle Brandon Pili, this time to their practice squad, and released defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence from the practice squad.
The Dolphins released Pili from the 53-man roster Saturday to make room for left tackle Terron Armstead, who was activated off injured reserve.
▪ McDaniel, on why he’s comfortable showing humor in a role (head coach) where that personality isn’t displayed publicly very often: “It’s important to be yourself. As long as I cut no corners on the front end of things, I really stay true to what this game is about. People respond best to authenticity, and you make sure nothing you say or do is fabricated.”
▪ Safety Jevon Holland said in only two games, Jalen Ramsey’s impact on the defense has been “big time. You look out to the right and you see ‘X’ [Xavien Howard].
“You look out to the left now you see Jalen, and it’s kind of like, ‘who do you want to throw to?’ You feel his presence in the run game.
“If we’re in man-to-man, you don’t have to really worry about him, you don’t have to worry about ‘X’. As a safety, it feels good to have two All-Pro, Pro Bowl, gold jacket guys on each side. Knowing that if they throw it out there, it’s liable to be a turnover.”
This story was originally published November 7, 2023 at 11:16 AM.
