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Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle could clear concussion protocol soon; De’Von Achane wins weekly award

david furones, south florida sun-sentinel
·3 min read

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will practice in full Wednesday, according to coach Mike McDaniel.

The results of the day’s drills will determine whether Waddle can get cleared entirely from concussion protocol ahead of Sunday’s AFC East showdown with the Buffalo Bills.

“Upon the results of that (practice), we’ll officially or unofficially clear him from the protocol,” McDaniel said.

Waddle missed last Sunday’s 70-20 win over the Denver Broncos after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit in the Sept. 17 win against the New England Patriots.

In other injury news, McDaniel continued to call outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips (oblique) and center Connor Williams (groin) day to day while noting they will not participate in Wednesday’s practice.

“We’ll press forward, and as we get information back, we’ll apply the information moving forward,” McDaniel said.

If Phillips is out, the Dolphins can count on Andrew Van Ginkel opposite Bradley Chubb. Van Ginkel has been stellar both as a rotational linebacker that can play outside and inside, as well as two instances where he filled in for Phillips.

If Williams can’t play in Orchard Park, the Dolphins will turn to backup center Liam Eichenberg, who played 30 offensive snaps in place of Williams against Denver.

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“He rose to the challenge in a very necessary way,” McDaniel said. “There’s stuff that he can improve on, for sure, but I was happy with how the game wasn’t too big for him. He executed his assignments, made sure there was a lot of appropriately declared run and pass plays when he was in, and that starts and ends with the center. It was good to see him get some action.”

McDaniel said running back Salvon Ahmed is “progressing” from his groin injury that kept him out of the Broncos game.

He said of wide receiver River Cracraft, who left the game with a right shoulder injury, that injured reserve, is a possibility that’s neither a certainty nor out of the question.

“He will do whatever it takes to be back as fast as possible,” McDaniel said.

Achane wins Player of the Week

For two of the three weeks thus far in the NFL season, the AFC Offensive Player of the Week has come from the Dolphins.

Rookie running back De’Von Achane won it, the NFL announced Wednesday, for his 203 rushing yards and four total touchdowns in Sunday’s historic 70-20 mauling of the Denver Broncos in Miami’s home opener.

Achane had his breakout performance in just his second NFL game after being a healthy inactive Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The award for the rookie out of Texas A&M comes after Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took home the same honor in that season opener against the Chargers. Sunday against Denver, Achane caught two of Tagovailoa’s four touchdown passes. He also had a 67-yard burst as one of his two rushing touchdowns on 18 carries.

Achane is the first Dolphins running back to win the weekly award since Jay Ajayi did it three times in 2016. His 203 rushing yards established a new rookie rushing record for Miami.

Along with Tagovailoa, fellow Dolphins tailback Raheem Mostert was in the running for the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Mostert also had four touchdowns — three rushing, one receiving — to go with 82 rushing yards and 60 receiving.

Between Tagovailoa and Achane, Bills quarterback Josh Allen won the award in Week 2. Buffalo linebacker Terrel Bernard won the Week 3 Defensive Player of the Week. The Dolphins and Bills face off Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.

This story will be updated.