With Playoff Hopes Fading, Dolphins Must Prioritize the Future Over Star Players

The Miami Dolphins suffered a crushing blow in Week 15 with a potentially season-ending loss to the Houston Texans, but a significant scare involving one of their star receivers, Jaylen Waddle, fortunately turned out to be minor. Waddle left the game in the second half after sustaining a leg injury, hopping off the field and eventually being taken to the medical tent. He did not return to action. However, as reported by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Waddle avoided a serious injury and is considered day-to-day. While this is positive news, it raises questions about whether he should return at all this season.

With the Dolphins holding less than a seven percent chance of making the playoffs, rushing Waddle back onto the field seems unnecessary. The same logic applies to other players like Isaiah Wynn, who has missed the entire season and most of training camp, and linebacker Bradley Chubb, who has been practicing for two weeks. At this point, Miami should focus on the future rather than squeezing production out of veterans in what appears to be a lost season.

Shutting down key players like Terron Armstead and giving young talents like Patrick Paul valuable reps in the final games would be a wiser strategy. Defensive prospects like Mohamed Kamara also deserve opportunities to showcase their potential.

While nothing is likely to change until Miami is mathematically eliminated, the team should prioritize development and evaluation over clinging to slim playoff hopes. It’s time to shift focus to building for next season.