The Miami Dolphins are getting two offensive playmakers back off the reserve/COVID-19 list for the final three-game stretch after playing without them in Sunday’s 31-24 win over the New York Jets.
The Dolphins are activating wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back Phillip Lindsay after both missed Sunday’s game, Dolphins coach Brian Flores said in a Monday web conference.
Waddle returns with his 86 receptions for 849. He is still on pace to break Anquan Boldin’s NFL rookie receptions record (101) despite missing a game. The NFL also added a regular-season game to the schedule this season, so Waddle can still get the record in 16 games played.
Lindsay had 12 carries for 42 yards in his debut with the Dolphins, the Nov. 28 win against the Carolina Panthers after being claimed off waivers from the Houston Texans. Lindsay then was held out of the following week’s game against the New York Giants due to an ankle injury. Then, he landed on the COVID list following Miami’s bye week that preceded Sunday’s game.
The return of Waddle and Lindsay brings another layer of reinforcements to the Dolphins’ offense after Miami also signed running back Duke Johnson to the active roster on Monday following the former Miami Hurricanes star’s career game of 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns on Sunday.
While the Dolphins established a season high in rushing of 183 yards, they also only threw for 196 yards without Waddle, as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had an uneven performance. He was intercepted twice, once for a touchdown.
Flores also said rookie safety Jevon Holland has not yet cleared league COVID protocols, so he still cannot return to the team to practice. Holland was activated off the COVID list on Saturday ahead of the 4 p.m. deadline in case he could clear protocols for Sunday’s game, but since he wasn’t able to, Holland was one of Miami’s inactive players against the Jets. Keeping him off the COVID list while he’s unavailable merely costs the Dolphins a spot on the 53-man roster until he is eligible to be activated.
Fuller likely out for season
Every week since Dolphins wide receiver Will Fuller became eligible to be activated off injured reserve following his Oct. 3 finger injury suffered in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Flores has taken it a week at a time with his comments on Fuller’s availability.
On Monday, Flores finally revealed Fuller will likely miss the remainder of the season.
“Will’s had some setbacks during his rehab,” Flores said. “I don’t expect him this week, and I don’t expect him back this season.”
Fuller signed a one-year, $10.6 million deal with the Dolphins in the offseason. He played one full game, Sept. 26 at the Las Vegas Raiders, and a quarter against the Colts before getting injured. Fuller also missed the opener at the New England Patriots serving the final game of his PED suspension stemming from his time with the Texans and was out Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills for personal reasons.
Fuller had four receptions for 26 yards, plus a successful 2-point conversion catch this year for the Dolphins.
This story will be updated.
