Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores announced Wednesday that wide receiver Preston Williams was placed on injured reserve after sustaining a foot injury in Sunday’s 34-31 win in Arizona.
Williams Injured on TD Grab in Arizona
Williams, who exited the game in the second quarter after scoring a nine-yard touchdown and did not return, suffered a more serious injury than was originally suspected by Flores and the Dolphins.
“We ran some tests. It’s a little bit more significant than we initially thought,” Flores said. “It’s a big loss. Preston has made a lot of plays for us over the first half of the season.”
Williams Having a Disappointing 2020 Season as Fins’ No. 2
Williams was currently the No. 2 WR in Miami, just behind DeVante Parker, and was helping a Dolphins receiving corps that was lacking after taking a hit in the offseason with two opt-outs due to COVID-19 after already not being very strong.
Williams’ usage has varied this season, ranging from 56-percent of the snaps to 90-percent, prior to just 28-percent before his exit on Sunday. But, he has been disappointing thus far despite his playing time.
He has just 18 catches (35 targets) for 288 yards. While his red zone threat with four touchdowns is an area Miami will have to solve quickly, he hasn’t held his weight in the middle of the field. In five of eight games this season he has at least two drops, and in two of those, he has at least four.
Williams will miss at least three games, though Flores said he isn’t comfortable putting a timetable on his return after the tests done this week, putting his Dec. 6 return in doubt.
WRs Jakeem Grant, Mack Hollins Due for Most Uptick in Work
In his absence, the Dolphins don’t have WRs Albert Wilson or Allen Hurns who opted out due to the coronavirus, and will now likely turn to Jakeem Grant as the No. 2 wideout and Mack Hollins as the No. 3.
Grant has made the most noise this season on special teams after his punt return TD against the Los Angeles Rams, but hasn’t done much in terms of receiving.
Hollins is the same way. He caught his first pass as a Dolphin last week for a pivotal fourth-quarter TD in Arizona.
Malcolm Perry, Lynn Bowden Jr., Antonio Callaway Could Have Shots in Near-Future
Rookie QB/RB/WR Malcolm Perry is the only other healthy listed WR on the roster with fellow rookie Lynn Bowden Jr. currently on the COVID-19 list. But, WR Antonio Callaway, who is currently on Miami’s practice squad, was activated last week after serving a 14-game suspension after violating the league’s substance-abuse rules. Reports have floated around from various sources that Callaway could jump into a prominent role quickly if the WR corps doesn’t shape up soon.
Two-Tight End Sets Possible
Flores added it’s possible Miami could turn to more two-tight-end sets now that the Dolphins have three active TEs on its roster but that could come down to TE Durham Smythe’s Sunday availability who is currently in the NFL’s concussion protocol. TEs Mike Gesicki and newly-extended Adam Shaheen are healthy on the roster, but may not be used together for it at this time.
With the Dolphins currently sitting at 5-3 and in a AFC playoff spot, it will be new faces that will have to propel them to stay there over at least the next few weeks.
– Kayla Morton is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Miami Dolphins. She is also a co-host on the Full Press Fantasy Podcast. Like and follow on Follow @northdakayla74 Follow @FPC_Dolphins and Facebook.
