McDaniel updates status of Tagovailoa, Waddle, others. Clarity emerges on Dolphins’ seed
The Dolphins will have quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday at Baltimore, and might get safety Jevon Holland back for the game, but receiver Jaylen Waddle has been ruled out.
Those were the big takeaways from Mike McDaniel’s media briefing at midday Friday.
Waddle’s high ankle sprain, sustained against Dallas, will sideline him at least one game. McDaniel said he won’t play Sunday.
Tagovailoa has been limited in practice this week with injuries to his left thumb and quadriceps. But McDaniel said he’s good to go for Sunday’s game (1 p.m., CBS).
McDaniel said Tagovailoa injured his thumb when it hit the helmet of a Cowboys player in the first quarter of last Sunday’s game.
“I didn’t know about it during the game,” McDaniel said. “He feels really good about the quad. He has been intentional to make sure it wouldn’t be an issue at all.”
McDaniel said he is “optimistic” about Holland’s availability for Sunday. Holland has missed four games in a row with sprained MCLs in both knees.
“Biggest thing is him not having any setbacks today,” McDaniel said before Friday’s practice.
As for guard Robert Hunt, McDaniel said he wants to see him Friday before making a decision on his status. Hunt, who was limited in practice on Thursday, has missed five of the past six games with a hamstring injury.
Hunt did “a little work yesterday and the day before” and hasn’t had any setbacks, McDaniel said.
Running backs Raheem Mostert (ankle) and De’Von Achane (toe) are good to go on Sunday.
Receiver Robbie Chosen is in final stages of concussion protocol and is on pace to being cleared for Sunday.
With Waddle out and Chosen moving through protocol, the Dolphins have five healthy receivers on the 53-man roster: Tyreek Hill, Braxton Berrios, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Chase Claypool and River Cracraft.
Asked about Claypool - who has had a fairly limited role since his acquisition of Chicago - McDaniel said he expects to see more of Claypool in Waddle’s absence.
“In practice, there’s been an uptick in involvement, particularly for this game,” McDaniel said. “Everyone understands what Waddle brings to our ream. It’s an opportunity [for others]....
“Chase has done an unbelievable job defining who he really is. Whatever narratives existed before, all he’s done here is chopped wood and gotten better and assimilated into a system that isn’t necessarily easy. He’s done it with the intent of helping the team through selflessness.”
SEEDING UPDATE
Cleveland’s victory against the Jets on Thursday offered the Dolphins a greater measure of clarity about their playoff seeding.
If the Dolphins do not win AFC East, they will be the sixth seed, with a good chance of opening the playoffs at Kansas City. (There’s also a smaller chance that Miami would open postseason at Buffalo or at the AFC South champion in this scenario). But the Chiefs would be Miami’s first round opponent in this scenario, barring upsets.
.If Dolphins win the AFC East, they likely would be the first or second seed. The No. 1 seed gets a first-round bye and would never go on the road before the Super Bowl. The No. 2 seed would host at least two playoff home games, provided it wins the first.
The only scenario where the Dolphins would win the AFC East but not be the No. 1 or 2 seed would be if New England wins at Buffalo on Sunday to clinch the division for the Dolphins; Miami loses out; and Kansas City wins out. Miami then would be third seed. The Chiefs host Cincinnati on Sunday and then close the season at the Chargers.
Miami would claim the No. 1 seed by either 1). beating Baltimore and Buffalo or 2). with a win against Baltimore, a loss to Buffalo in Week 18, a Cleveland Week 18 loss to Cincinnati and a Baltimore Week 18 loss to Pittsburgh.
The Dolphins would win the AFC East with a win in Baltimore or a win against Buffalo in Week 18 or a Bills loss to New England on Sunday.
The NFL will set the Week 18 schedule, with dates and times, following Sunday’s games.
