JAYLEN WADDLE

The fact that he’s tethered to an ideal situation with an established quarterback in a good offense is just icing on the cake. Jaylen Waddle, Miami DolphinsAfter a rookie season that was defined by his high floor, many were left wondering if there was more juice to squeeze out of Jaylen Waddle's ability. Chief among them is second-year receiver Elijah Moore, who brings all the skills we want in a breakout player. Biggest selling pointKyler Murray is a good quarterback and has elevated receiver talents over the last couple of seasons. Palmer could slide in as the WR3 on a really good offense with a great quarterback.

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Jaylen Waddle had a touchdown grab and set the NFL record for receptions in a rookie year, Duke Johnson rushed for 117 yards and the Miami Dolphins finished their season by defeating the playoff-bound New England Patriots 33-24.

___5:45 p.m.New Orleans quarterback Taysom Hill has left a game against Atlanta midway through the second quarter with a left foot injury. Brady reached 5,000 on his second completion, a 5-yarder to Cameron Brate early in the second quarter against Carolina Panthers. The Rams are controlling the ball early while building a 17-0 lead in the second quarter against San Francisco. ___4:35 p.m.Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers are all but in the playoffs in what the star quarterback says is “most likely” his final season. Ben Roethlisberger still has playoff hopes in his final season, a week after the star quarterback’s farewell in Pittsburgh.

Brady reached 5,000 on his second completion, a 5-yarder to Cameron Brate early in the second quarter against Carolina Panthers. ___4:35 p.m.Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers are all but in the playoffs in what the star quarterback says is “most likely” his final season. The Chargers and Raiders are playing the final game of the NFL's first 17-game regular season. He’s also on the verge of setting the NFL rookie record in a single season. Ben Roethlisberger still has playoff hopes in his final season, a week after the star quarterback’s farewell in Pittsburgh.

The 49ers dominated possession in the NFC West rivals’ first meeting, holding the ball for over 39 minutes. The Rams can win the NFC West title for the third time in five seasons with a victory. ___4:35 p.m.Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers are all but in the playoffs in what the star quarterback says is “most likely” his final season. Ben Roethlisberger still has playoff hopes in his final season, a week after the star quarterback’s farewell in Pittsburgh. The 49ers are in with a victory over the Los Angeles Rams, who have already qualified and can clinch the NFC West with a win.

Patriots Dolphins Football Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) catches a pass thrown by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1), left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Willfredo Lee) (Willfredo Lee)The Latest from Week 18 of the NFL (all times Eastern):___4:45 p.m.Jaylen Waddle has more catches than any rookie in NFL history. The former Alabama player is the 22nd rookie in NFL history to have a 1,000-yard receiving season. The previous Dolphins’ rookie marks were 84 catches by Jarvis Landry in 2014 and 883 receiving yards by Chris Chambers in 2001. He’s also on the verge of setting the NFL rookie record in a single season. Ben Roethlisberger still has playoff hopes in his final season, a week after the star quarterback’s farewell in Pittsburgh.

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(AP Photo/Jeff Dean) (Jeff Dean)The Latest from Week 17 of the NFL (all times EST):___1:58 p.m.Joe Burrow has thrown a 72-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase to cut Cincinnati's cut deficit against Kansas City to seven points. On the second play of Cincinnati’s next drive, Burrow and Chase hooked up for the big touchdown. With his 40-yard completion to receiver Laquon Treadwell in the first quarter of their matchup with New England, Lawrence has set the Jaguars single-season rookie passing yards mark. He entered the game leading all rookies with 319 completions and ranking second with 3,225 yards passing. He needed 47 just more yards passing to break Gardner Minshew's record for the most in franchise history by a rookie.

Dolphins Saints Football Miami Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle (17) runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in New Orleans. The Saints' defense helped keep the game within reach until Waddle scored on a 1-yard shovel pass from Tua Tagovailoa to make it 17-3 with 5:10 left in the third quarter. THE WADDLE EFFECTWaddle returned to the lineup after missing Miami’s previous game because of a positive COVID-19 test. The Saints finally moved the ball on their fifth series, needing just four plays to pick up three first downs. Saints: Host NFC South foe Carolina on Sunday before traveling to Atlanta to end the regular season.

Rookie sensation Jaylen Waddle returned from the COVID-19 list to catch 10 passes for 92 yards and touchdown, and the Miami Dolphins beat the short-handed New Orleans Saints 20-3.

The Miami Dolphins are on a five-game winning streak and the team will host the New York Jets at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Tua Tagovailoa threw a pair of short touchdown passes and the Miami Dolphins extended their winning streak to five games by topping the New York Giants 20-9 on Sunday.

Mike Glennon started at quarterback for the Giants in place of Daniel Jones, who was sidelined with a neck injury. Graham Gano had three field goals for the Giants, including a 51-yarder with 4:59 remaining to get New York within 17-9. And on another third down with 3:14 left, Tagovailoa lofted one perfectly for Mike Gesicki for a 17-yard gain. INJURIESGiants: WR Kenny Golladay (ribs) left the game in the first half, then returned to the game after halftime. WELL BEHAVEDThe first penalty of the game came with 1:55 left in the first half, when the Giants’ Leonard Williams jumped offside.

Tua Tagovailoa threw a pair of short touchdown passes and the Miami Dolphins extended their winning streak to five games by topping the New York Giants 20-9 on Sunday.

Tua Tagovailoa threw a go-ahead 5-yard touchdown pass to Myles Gaskin early in the fourth quarter and the Miami Dolphins hung on to beat the New York Jets 24-17 for their third straight victory.

Six weeks into the NFL season and each conference has only six teams with a winning record. Five clubs have one win, the Lions are winless and four division races are all but over, barring major injuries to the first-place teams. Detroit (0-6) is the front-runner, but Houston, Miami, Jacksonville, the Giants and Jets each have a real shot with only one win.

The Miami Dolphins look to end a two-game losing streak when the team hosts Indianapolis Colts at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

The Miami Dolphins will head to Massachusetts this weekend to play against the New England Patriots in the first game of the season.

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Tua Tagovailoa threw for 187 yards and one touchdown in one half and the Miami Dolphins beat the Atlanta Falcons 37-17.

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Jaylen Waddle is headed to the Miami Dolphins to provide a dynamic target for his former Alabama teammate, Tua Tagovailoa.

The Miami Dolphins selected Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle with the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday.

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Patrick Surtain II and Mac Jones had the spotlight at Alabama's Pro Day, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)DeVonta Smith was there for quarterback Mac Jones once again, this time it was at Alabama's latest pro day. “He didn't have to do that,” Jones told the SEC Network, which aired the pro day. '”Jones showcased his arm strength a week after participating in the Crimson Tide's first pro day. “Mac was just on me like, ‘Bro, come catch, come catch, come catch,’” Smith told the network.

Saban and Alabama opened spring practice Friday, March 19, 2021l with an immediate goal. For now, they need to find replacements for three of college football's top offensive weapons. Patterson, File)Nick Saban and Alabama opened spring practice Friday with an immediate goal. He also didn't get a spring practice last year because of the pandemic. The Crimson Tide holds its spring game on April 17 and opens the regular season against Miami on Sept. 4 in Atlanta.

The last NFL event not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic was the 2020 combine in Indianapolis. A year later, with the 2021 combine canceled, the league has released a list of players who would have merited invitations. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)The last NFL event not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic was the 2020 combine in Indianapolis. A year later, with the 2021 combine canceled, the league has released a list of players who would have merited invitations. Cornerbacks got the most invitations with 44, including all-Americans Shaun Wade of Ohio State, and Patrick Surtain of national champion Alabama.

Now the question is will he be able to play in the title game Monday night against Ohio State? “I think you absolutely have to prepare as if he's going to play,” Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs said. Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson posted photos on Twitter showing her visiting with coach Ryan Day and the team in the school's indoor practice facility. WEST COAST EXPORTSThe West Coast will be well represented in the national championship game among the players, if not the football programs themselves. Alabama All-America tailback Najee Harris, Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave and Buckeyes All-America guard Wyatt Davis are all from California.

Then Waddle went down with a season-ending leg injury on October 24. 1 receiver, Smith shined. The week after Waddle went out, Smith had 11 catches for 204 yards and four touchdowns against Mississippi State. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith #6 of the Alabama Crimson Tide seen at AT&T Stadium on January 1, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Smitty — as teammates and coaches call him — didn't emerge as a Hesiman contender this season until Waddle went down.

Then Waddle went down with a season-ending leg injury on October 24. 1 receiver, Smith shined. The week after Waddle went out, Smith had 11 catches for 204 yards and four touchdowns against Mississippi State. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith #6 of the Alabama Crimson Tide seen at AT&T Stadium on January 1, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Smitty — as teammates and coaches call him — didn't emerge as a Hesiman contender this season until Waddle went down.

Smith became the first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy in 29 seasons Tuesday night, breaking the monopoly quarterbacks have had on the award by beating out three of them. “Just to be one of the very few that played receiver to win the Heisman, it means a lot to me,” Smith said. Smith is the third Alabama player to win the Heisman, all since 2009. 1 receiver, Smith shined. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Alabama coach Nick Saban said junior wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is out for the rest of the season after hurting his right ankle on the opening kickoff Saturday against Tennessee. “It’s a shame because the guy’s a great player,” Saban told CBS at halftime. Waddle has been one of the nation's top punt returners the past two years and has seldom had the ball kicked his way this year. Waddle currently leads all Crimson Tide returners averaging 19.3 yards per punt return in his career, nearly six years better than second place. Waddle opened this season with at least 120 yards receiving in each of the first four games and led Alabama with 557 yards on just 25 catches.

At the top of USA Today's most recent revenue rankings for college athletic departments are Texas and Texas A&M. Texas and Texas A&M have everything needed to put out a national championship-level football program. The Aggies and Longhorns refuse to play each other but combine to form an Axis of Underachievers in the Lone Star State. In three games against Alabama under Fisher, the Aggies are 0-3 by a combined 144-75. For now, though, Texas and Texas A&M continue to prove the adage that money can't buy happiness.

Briefly threatened early, Jones and the Crimson Tide (2-0) flexed their considerable big-play muscle in the passing game to put away the Aggies (1-1). “Our guys stayed the course and kept competing in the game,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “We won, so it's a good game,” Jones said, when asked if it was his best performance. Smith, a converted receiver, emerged as another needed threat in the passing game. Alabama: Any questions about production of the Tide's passing game after Tua Tagovailoa, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III have been answered.

3 Crimson Tide received that programs equivalent of a humbling last season, if an 11-2 record can qualify as such. Alabama failed to make the College Football Playoffs for the first time thanks largely to a 48-45, regular season-ending loss to rival Auburn. Making matters worse, that followed a 2018 season that ended with national championship game thrashing at the hands of Clemson. Speculation abounded that highly recruited freshman Bryce Young might push Jones for the starting job before COVID-19 canceled spring practice. Harris emerged as Alabamas latest star runner last season, gaining 1,224 yards and scoring 20 combined touchdowns rushing and receiving.