Dolphins’ Waddle questionable for home opener
Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle — working his way through concussion protocol —was a limited participant in practice Friday and is one of seven Dolphins listed as questionable for Sunday’s home opener against Denver (1 p.m., CBS).
Waddle, who was wearing a red noncontact jersey Friday, could be removed from protocol as late as Sunday morning.
Terron Armstead (ankle, knee) was limited in practice on Friday, but coach Mike McDaniel said he’s optimistic about Armstead playing Sunday.
Jaelan Phillips (back) practiced fully Friday, and McDaniel said he’s optimistic about Phillips playing Sunday.
Both of those two players were listed as questionable, as were Waddle, tight end Tyler Kroft (limited in Friday’s practice) and three who practiced fully on Friday: safety Elijah Campbell, defensive tackle Raekwon Davis and tight end Julian Hill.
Running back Salvon Ahmed — limited in Friday’s practice with a groin injury — is listed as doubtful for Sunday.
MARSHALL ON TUA
Former NFL Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall said this week that Tua Tagovailoa is now “the best quarterback in football.”
He said Tagovailoa displays “poise, control of the offense, efficiency, quick decision-making, accuracy. He throws a beautiful ball.”
What’s more, Marshall declared the Dolphins are “the new kings of the
NFL. Forget the AFC East. Forget the AFC. They’re the new kings of the NFL, as it stands today. It’s in their hands to keep it. They’re fourth in defense, they’re No. 1 in offense. And 10th in special teams. ... I don’t see anybody beating this team. [If they lose], they’ll beat themselves.”
Raheem Mostert was timed at 21.62 mph on his 43-yard touchdown run against New England; only teammate Tyreek Hill has been timed faster among any NFL player who has touched the ball through two weeks of the season. Hill hit 21.66 mph on his 47-yard reception against the Chargers.
Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold said “we have a contest in the running back room every week” to determine who was “the fastest guy. I think all of them were over 21 this last game. So it was pretty impressive.”
New Dolphins offensive line coach Butch Barry is presiding over a unit that has permitted just one sack this season and is creating holes for a running game that is averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
“Butch has a standard, just like we have a standard, and we set the standard and he keeps us on the standard,” guard Robert Hunt said. “He does a good job at what he does. Butch is a good coach.”
Right tackle Austin Jackson said Barry has “done a great job of being present with me if I had a question with anything. He’s allowed me to ask questions and help me understand [things] and coached me up and I appreciate that.”
Defensive coordinator
Vic Fangio is playing
Jevon Holland in the box far more than former coordinator Josh Boyer did.
“Jevon is a very good player, and you can put him in any position and he will play at a high level,” defensive backs coach
Renaldo Hill said. “He can play in the deep part, come down and be physical. He’s always tracking the ball for punch outs. If you put him at d-tackle, he would figure it out.”
As for 2022 starting safety Brandon Jones ,he has played only two defensive snaps because Fangio said he needs more practice reps after last October’s knee injury limited him in training camp and sidelined him for the three preseason games.
“I’m antsy” to play, Jones said good-naturedly Friday. “Still haven’t ripped off the Band-Aid. I’m confident about the knee.”
DeShon Elliott and Holland played every snap at safety against New England.
Through two weeks of the season, Pro Football Focus rates Tagovailoa first among quarterbacks; Mostert 11th among running backs; Hill and Waddle second and 16th among wide receivers;
Connor Williams third among centers; Hunt eighth among guards;
Kader Kohou seventh among cornerbacks; and Holland seventh among safeties.