Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, Brian Flores react to Jaylen Waddle injury scare
Nervousness shot throughout all of Miami when Jaylen Waddle went down in pain on Saturday. The sixth overall selection in this year’s NFL Draft limped off the field, and the Dolphins held their collective breath.
Well, the biggest fears of the organization were quelled when the former Alabama wide receiver returned to the field for the next drive. Moreover, even Tua Tagovailoa couldn’t decipher the events.
“I was wondering what happened,” Tagovailoa said, per the Palm Beach Post. “I wasn’t too sure. And then when he came out the next drive, I was surprised. I was like, ‘What happened?’”
While the Dolphins quarterback may have been confused, it’s hard to imagine he wasn’t elated knowing the team avoided a preseason disaster.
“It’s important for him to play.”
Furthermore, Dolphins head coach Brian Flores was left wondering if his team lost their first round pick before he could even make it to the regular season. As he saw Waddle run back onto the field, he chalked it up to an NFL learning experience.
“That’s part of playing in the National Football League,” Flores said. “Every once in a while you’re going to get dinged and you come out. If you can go back, you go back in there and help the team.”
While many may believe that the Dolphins are wasting their time and unnecessarily risking Waddle’s health by playing him in the preseason, Flores believes the opposite. Afterwards, the Dolphins coach mentioned the importance of this time for his wide receiver.
“It’s important for him to play,” Flores said. “I think we’ve got a lot of guys like that. They want to be out there.”
With Waddle on the field, the Dolphins project to have one of the league’s best receiving corps. In addition to Waddle, Miami also has Devante Parker and Will Fuller rounding out the unit, with Mike Gesicki playing tight end.
“He’s fast. He’s tough.”
Continuing, Flores saw some good things from the rookie throughout his second preseason game.
“I think he’s quick,” Flores said. “He’s fast. He’s tough. He did some good things today.”
On the field, Waddle has been his usual electrifying self. This offseason, the Dolphins knew they had to get Tagovailoa some weapons, and they needed to look no further than their quarterback’s alma mater.
While Waddle’s stat-lines so far may not inspire confidence just looking at them, seeing his prowess first-hand is. However, the wide receiver had zero catches in the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, and just three catches for 21 yards against the Atlanta Falcons.
Still, it’s a bonafide win that Waddle’s injury isn’t serious.
“He’s a young player in his second preseason game,” Flores said of Waddle. “I don’t know how many practices it’s been, 15 or 16 practices. Still got a long way to go but definitely making some improvement.”
Jaylen Waddle may be in the early stages of his NFL career, but his impact will be undeniable this season.