Marcel Louis-Jacques
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins gamers obtained a shock visitor speaker throughout Friday's assembly — vast receiver Tyreek Hill.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stated Hill attended Friday's assembly three days after present process season-ending surgical procedure on a dislocated left knee. Hill had been hospitalized since struggling the damage in Monday evening's win over the New York Jets however was in a position to return to the power to supply his teammates phrases of encouragement.
“Tyreek was within the constructing as we speak,” McDaniel stated. “He got here into the staff assembly and made positive that the blokes had been persevering with to remain motivated to have complementary soccer with 11 gamers enjoying as one in three phases over the course of the sport.”
The Dolphins enter comparatively uncharted territory beginning with this week's sport towards the Carolina Panthers. Since buying and selling for Hill in 2022, they've solely performed one sport with out him — a 30-0 win over the Jets in 2023.
Broad receiver Jaylen Waddle, who signed a three-year, $84.75 million extension in Might 2024, steps into Hill's function because the staff's lead receiver; nonetheless, McDaniel stated Miami has at all times seen Waddle as a No. 1 receiver, and Waddle stated the idea is extra of a media creation than an precise function.
“We by no means have a look at it like receiver 1, or 1A-1B,” Waddle stated Thursday. “I believe that is extra like a media factor or one thing that provides one thing for the media to speak about. All of us go on the market, make performs and simply attempt to assist our staff win. It isn't a receiver 1, receiver 2, sort of factor. It is with the ability to go on the market contribute and assist your staff get a W.”
Since getting into the league in 2021, Waddle ranks fifteenth in receiving yards and tenth in yards per catch. His seven receptions of fifty or extra yards are tied for Eighth-most in that very same span.
Miami will even look to 2024 sixth-round decide Malik Washington in an elevated function within the passing sport, in addition to tight finish Darren Waller — who caught two landing passes in his debut final week.
McDaniel stated Waller nonetheless will not doubtless see a full workload after enjoying 16 of Miami's 58 offensive snaps in Week 4, however he has “earned” extra snaps towards the Panthers.
The Dolphins' coach additionally stated he would not count on to overcompensate for Hill's absence.
“I believe we've a number of succesful soccer gamers that I am very assured in,” he stated. “I believe once you lose gamers of that magnitude, it is by no means completed with one human being. It is the execution of the general group in any respect positions that make up the distinction. And I've a bunch of motivated soccer gamers.
“The place there's adversity, there's alternative — I believe that is sort of our velocity.”
