The Miami Dolphins can’t afford to take any risks with their star players right now, especially with the upcoming season just around the corner.
They already lost star CB Jalen Ramsey for the first portion of the season, so they need to be extremely cautious going forward.
That’s why HC Mike McDaniel told the media that they’re going to hold out star WR Jaylen Waddle from contact drills in joint practices with the Houston Texans, as well as their upcoming game (via Cameron Wolfe).
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel told reporters they will hold WR Jaylen Waddle (midsection injury) out of contact drills in joint practices & game vs. Texans this week.
Waddle told team he’s ready and wants to go but McDaniel said they are protecting him from himself. Not long-term.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) August 16, 2023
Per the coach, Waddle feels — and is — ready to go and wants to be on the field, but the team doesn’t want to risk any unnecessary setbacks and is looking to “protect him for himself” as they think of the long run.
Waddle left practice last week with an undisclosed injury to the midsection, but he was never expected to be out for a long period of time.
Even so, with all the injuries they dealt with last season — especially with Tua Tagovailoa — the Dolphins are doing the right thing by keeping him on the shelf.
Joint practices always leave the door open for unnecessary contact, as teams usually don’t get along and go at it with plenty of intensity, and that’s a risk they just can’t take.
Even with Tua out, the Dolphins still managed to make the playoffs last season, and they’re striving for even bigger things in 2023.
Waddle might not be happy, but this is for his own good, and he’ll just have to be patient about it.
NEXT: Analyst Explains Why Dolphins Pulled Out Of Dalvin Cook Race
