The Jets’ opponent Sunday is being decimated by a COVID-19 outbreak.
The Dolphins have just one active running back who is not in the health and safety protocols and placed their best wide receiver in those protocols on Thursday.
Jaylen Waddle, the No. 6 pick in this year’s draft, who is seventh in the NFL with 86 catches and has been the favorite target of Tua Tagovailoa, is the latest to join the reserve list. If Waddle cannot play, receiver DeVante Parker and tight end Mike Gesicki would see more targets.
Miami already was without three running backs — Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed and Phillip Lindsay — who are in the protocols and in doubt for Sunday. Even practice-squad running back Gerrid Doaks reportedly was placed on the reserve list.
As of Thursday, Duke Johnson was the only running back on the Dolphins’ active roster, but they are expected to add another. Additionally, rookie safety Jevon Holland is on the reserve list.
“As of right now, we have to stick with our game plan because we don’t know what type of personnel they might bring out,” Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley said.
The Jets added two players to their own COVID list: receiver Elijah Moore, who already was on injured reserve, and linebacker Hamsah Nasirildeen, who has not played a snap since Week 2.
More than 100 players across the league reportedly have tested positive since Monday. The Dolphins are holding virtual meetings, as the Jets did earlier this week.
“I feel like we’re back in 2020,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said.
The NFL’s adjusted COVID guidelines released Thursday allow quicker returns from the protocols. Fully vaccinated players who have been asymptomatic for at least 24 hours can return with the right combination of COVID test results.
OT George Fant, who has not missed a game, did not practice for a second straight day because of a knee injury. He stretched with a trainer on the side, but coach Robert Saleh has said he expects Fant to play Sunday.
Mosley also did not practice, but merely to rest. DL Sheldon Rankins, who did not practice Wednesday, was a limited participant Thursday. CB Isaiah Dunn, who had missed practice with a non-COVID illness, was a full participant. DL John Franklin-Myers was a full participant after being limited a day earlier.
The Jets restored LB Noah Dawkins to their practice squad. Dawkins had been placed on injured reserve Nov. 16.
