Dolphins’ Waddle, Mostert give it a go at Friday practice, but Howard ruled out vs. Bills; could McDaniel play for tie late?
MIAMI GARDENS — The two Miami Dolphins offensive playmakers that missed last Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens have not yet been ruled out for this Sunday night’s regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills.
Despite missing the first two practices of the week with ankle injuries, running back Raheem Mostert and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will give it a go at Friday drills, according to coach Mike McDaniel, speaking before practice.
How they look in Friday’s session will determine whether they will be available for the clash with the Bills at Hard Rock Stadium with the AFC East title on the line.
“I wouldn’t close the door because they haven’t,” McDaniel said. “They’re going to get a little work in (Friday), and then we’ll make a determination. That’s very tricky.”
Waddle is dealing with a high ankle sprain suffered in the Dec. 24 win over the Dallas Cowboys, and Mostert is also dealing with an unspecified ankle ailment from that same game. Mostert returned later in the game, but both missed the Dec. 31 loss in Baltimore.
Both were indeed seen at the team’s Friday practice. Waddle had a strip of tape on his left ankle and ran two routes, without a defense in front of him, during the media viewing portion of drills. He appeared somewhat slowed from his usual self.
The two account for more than 2,200 total yards from scrimmage this season, with Mostert reaching 1,000 rushing yards and Waddle 1,000 receiving yards.
McDaniel said he has to balance the importance of the finale, with the No. 2 seed at play, with knowing that he needs his players available and at their best for the postseason, as well.
“You have to make an educated guess, with all the information, on whether or not — how much at risk is his play going to linger and be a consistent theme for the rest of the season,” McDaniel said.
Meanwhile, Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard is indeed out, McDaniel said, after stating earlier in the week that he didn’t expect to have his No. 2 cornerback opposite Jalen Ramsey.
Howard left Sunday’s loss to the Ravens with a foot injury.
“He won’t be in this game,” McDaniel said, “and he’s just trying to get back in hopes of our next scheduled match, that he’ll be able to be a part of it.”
Star Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, after dealing with a fire at his home Wednesday and not being around team facilities Thursday, is back with the Dolphins on Friday.
McDaniel said Hill, who was seen at practice, has had a great deal of support from teammates. That standout wide receiver is living away from home for the time being.
“He’s a powerful human being and spirit,” McDaniel said. “He’ll lead his family through it, but it’s something that he’s definitely dealing with and we’re here to support him.”
The Dolphins coach said he’s optimistic about both right guard Robert Hunt and linebacker Jerome Baker making a return this week — Hunt due to a hamstring injury and Baker off injured reserve with a knee ailment.
Edge rusher Bradley Chubb, after tearing his ACL against the Ravens, had surgery this week, according to McDaniel.
“It went very well,” McDaniel said. “Happy that his process has started. It’s a long road, but if there’s anybody that’s built for it, it’s that guy.”
Linebackers David Long Jr. and Duke Riley have been limited this week in practice, but both are good to go against Buffalo, per McDaniel.
Play for tie?
The Dolphins don’t necessarily need to win against the Bills to clinch the AFC East and the No. 2 seed. A tie against Buffalo accomplishes the same thing.
Could McDaniel manage end-of-game scenarios differently knowing a tie is just as good as a win?
“That might come across the radar way down the line in decision-making, but it’s not really on my radar,’ McDaniel said. “There’s so few situations where you can even negotiate that.
“I think you have to play to win the game to even be in position to tie it, but I’ll cross that bridge much, much later. Right now, we’re just trying to win the game, and by trying to win the game, if the score’s tied when it’s close to zeroes on the clock, we can approach it with that knowledge.”
He finished the statement with a quip: “Maybe we’ll do something, maybe we won’t. Maybe we’ll just throw a Hail Mary just because we want to.”
By Sunday night’s game, the Bills will know precisely what scenario they face, and the Dolphins will know which opponent they’d be lined up with in the wild-card round with a win or tie.
Miami, with a win, could face either Pittsburgh, Buffalo or Jacksonville. The Bills could clinch at least a wild-card spot before the night game, but they could be in a position where a loss means they’re out, a tie means they’re in as a wild card or a win means they win the division.
A tie in either their game or the Houston-Indianapolis game could get the Dolphins to face either the Texans or Colts in the first round. There are no scenarios involving a Dolphins tie that would line them up with the Bills in the first round. Miami plays at Kansas City in the wild-card round with a loss.
This story will be updated.