Jaylen Waddle injury news: What happened to Dolphins WR vs Bucs? Miami gives latest update

Jaylen Waddle injury update: In bad news for the Dolphins, their top WR sustained a rib injury vs the Bucs

Updated on: Dec 29, 2025, 01:13:33 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Jaylen Waddle injury update: The Miami Dolphins jumped ahead 10–7 midway through the second quarter vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Hard Rock Stadium, but the lead came with a setback. Moments before Riley Patterson’s 29-yard field goal, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle exited the game after suffering what the team later described as a rib injury.

Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins takes the field prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Getty Images via AFP)

The Dolphins announced that Waddle is questionable to return. He had not recorded a reception before leaving the field and logged one rushing attempt for 7 yards earlier in the half.

Waddle had been on the field for several early offensive series before trainers escorted him off for further evaluation.

Dolphins inactives vs Bucs

C Aaron Brewer

WR Nick Ikhine-Westbrook

S Minkah Fitzpatrick

T Kendall Lamm

DE Derrick McLendon

QB Tua Tagovailoa (3rd QB)

Miami Dolphins depth chart

Offense

WR: Malik Washington, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Tahj Washington

LT: Patrick Paul, Kendall Lamm

LG: Jonah Savaiinaea

C: Aaron Brewer, Daniel Brunskill

RG: Cole Strange

RT: Austin Jackson, Larry Borom

TE: Darren Waller, Julian Hill, Greg Dulcich

FB: Alec Ingold

RB: De'Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon II

QB: Quinn Ewers, Zach Wilson, Tua Tagovailoa

WR: Jaylen Waddle, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Dee Eskridge

Defense

DT: Zach Sieler, Matthew Butler

DT: Kenneth Grant, Benito Jones

DT: Jordan Phillips, Zeek Biggers

OLB: Bradley Chubb, Quinton Bell

LB: Tyrel Dodson, K.J. Britt

LB: Jordyn Brooks, Willie Gay Jr., Jackson Woodard

OLB: Chop Robinson, Cameron Goode

CB: Rasul Douglas, Ethan Bonner, Isaiah Johnson, Ethan Robinson

CB: Jack Jones, Jason Marshall Jr., A.J. Green III

S: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dante Trader Jr.

S: Ashtyn Davis, Ifeatu Melifonwu

Special Teams

K: Riley Patterson

P: Jake Bailey

H: Jake Bailey

LS: Joe Cardona

KR: Malik Washington, Dee Eskridge, Jaylen Wright

PR: Malik Washington, Jaylen Waddle

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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