Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle showed out in the 30-0 blowout win over the New York Jets, as the Dolphins were without Tyreek Hill.
Waddle caught eight passes for 142 yards and a 60-yard touchdown, as he was the go-to target from start to finish for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Tua hits Jaylen Waddle for a 60 yard touchdown! Dolphins lead Jets 24-0.#nfl #football #nflfootball #sports #sportshighlights pic.twitter.com/5HK0lKQOZk
— SportsHighlights (@SportsContent) December 17, 2023
It’s been a difficult season for Waddle with injuries up to this point in 2023. This was just the third game that he eclipsed 100 yards. He’s proven himself capable of doing this more consistently.
“He came into training camp with a lot of momentum, and then had just some random injuries that he was dealing with,” said Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. “One of the coolest parts about this season has been watching him progress through those injuries. I think he had his best route-running game the week previous against the Titans.”
While Waddle has shown the ability to be a much more impactful player than the box scores have indicated, Miami’s offense hasn’t necessarily needed him to. The offense has clearly been centered around Hill, often placing Waddle away from Tagovailoa’s first read. The emergence of the running game, led by Raheem Mostert, has been a pleasant surprise that’s taken opportunities away from the passing game as well.
It was an encouraging sight to see Waddle back in dominant form against the Jets. The Dolphins will need him to step up in a big way come playoff time, as the best teams in the AFC will surely be focused on stopping THill and minimizing the impact of the running game.
Tagovailoa should have plenty of opportunities to seek out his former Alabama teammate in key situations moving forward.
