Dolphins WR Waddle clears protocol, set to return

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has cleared the concussion protocol, the team announced Thursday.

Waddle will be available for Miami’s Week 4 matchup against the Buffalo Bills after missing the Dolphins’ 70-20 Week 3 victory over the Denver Broncos while in the protocol. Even without Waddle, the high-powered Dolphins offense set a franchise record for points in a game and became the first team in NFL history to score 70 points and compile 700 yards (726) of offense in the same game.

Waddle was asked Thursday what the Dolphins’ offense can accomplish with him in the lineup considering it scored 70 without him.

“Shoot, only time will tell, I guess. But 70 is historical. It’s a tribute to the guys that we’ve got that are unspoken heroes that really don’t get too much glory that go out there and play,” he said.

Waddle had four catches for 86 yards in the Dolphins’ win over the New England Patriots in Week 2 before a hit from linebacker Marte Mapu knocked him out of the game late in the fourth quarter. Mapu was flagged for unnecessary roughness and fined $5,620 for the helmet-to-helmet hit.

Waddle, a 2021 first-round pick, has eight receptions for 164 yards in two games this season.

He surpassed 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, including a career-high 1,356 last season. He also had a career-best eight touchdown receptions.

Left tackle Terron Armstead and center Connor Williams were both upgraded to limited participants in Thursday’s practice, while tight end Durham Smythe was upgraded to a full participant.

Linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who coach Mike McDaniel described as day-to-day with an oblique injury he sustained in Week 3, did not practice for the second straight day.

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