Hill’s wrist injury has been “warming up,” McDaniel said Saturday, and the team wants to give him a chance to “cool down.”
McDaniel added that he was neither optimistic nor pessimistic that Hill would play Monday, as the Dolphins take things day by day with the wide receiver.
“I’m just trying to take it to game day,” McDaniel said. “He is prepared, and if his body allows it, he will play, but we will see… I am optimistic that he will do everything he can.” [in order to play]”.
Hill leads all Dolphins players with 446 receiving yards this season, although it is his worst statistical start since being traded to Miami in 2022. However, his production has improved since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned from an absence. of four games; Hill has averaged 76 yards in the Dolphins’ last two games after averaging 35 in the previous four.
If Hill can’t play, Jaylen Waddle would slot in as Miami’s top receiver, with Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie Malik Washington playing complementary roles. Veteran catcher River Cracraft could also return from injured reserve on Monday after missing the first eight games with a shoulder injury suffered during the preseason.
While Hill’s status remains uncertain, the Dolphins will be without starting right tackle Austin Jackson, who McDaniel said appeared with a knee injury after their loss to the Buffalo Bills last week. It’s unclear, McDaniel said, whether Jackson will require surgery, but his injury is not expected to be season-ending.
Veteran Kendall Lamm and rookie Patrick Paul are candidates to replace Jackson at right tackle.
The Dolphins (2-6) will look to snap a three-game losing streak against a Rams team that has won its last three games. Miami is 2.5 games behind the Denver Broncos for seventh place in the AFC.
