Injuries hit Dolphins receiving room before preseason finale in Tampa
The injury bug has hit Southern Florida early this year, and it’s made a feast out of the Miami Dolphins’ receiving room. Odell Beckham Jr. was the first victim, Jaylen Waddle was next, and River Cracraft followed. Tyreek Hill became the latest to join a crowded viewing party on the sidelines.
According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, Hill is dealing with a minor injury. Wolfe noted that the receiver didn’t participate in Tuesday’s practice and wore a brace on his right hand. Due to the injury, Hill likely won’t partake in Miami’s joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday morning or Friday night’s preseason finale.
Mike McDaniel has erred on the side of caution throughout training camp. On Monday, McDaniel noted that Waddle’s undisclosed injury would be handled differently in-season. The same can be assumed for Beckham and Hill.
“There has been a little stress on the depth in the (receivers) room,” McDaniel told reporters. “But there’s also different caveats to that. Are we approaching Jaylen Waddle as we would in the season? The answer is, ‘no.’”
Cracraft is the exception among the group. The receiver suffered an upper-body injury on a 13-yard touchdown catch during the Dolphins’ preseason outing vs. the Washington Commanders. Unlike his teammates, Cracraft will miss time.
“It was an upper-body injury. It will be some time, for sure. It doesn’t appear to be season-ending, but it will be some time. No one likes to see injuries in general. I’m [at the] top of that list, but I think if there’s anybody equipped to handle adversity, it’s River Cracraft. I don’t know how many teams he’s been on, but it’s a lot. He’s worked his way to be a very, very good player in this league and that confidence will sustain,” McDaniel said.
Cracraft’s injury could open the door for a new receiver on the 53-man roster. Hill, Waddle, Beckham, and Braxton Berrios are shoo-ins. Rookie Malik Washington has worked his way up the depth chart, and Erik Ezukanma comes off an impressive preseason outing.
