Dolphins Receiver Chase Claypool Sidelined by Knee Procedure

Recently acquired receiver Chase Claypool will sit out the Raiders game after under going a surgical procedure on his right knee

The Miami Dolphins will be forced to play a handful of games without one of the team's newest additions.

Chase Claypool, who joined the team a month ago in a trade with the Chicago Bears that swapped 2025 late-round selections, has missed the past two weeks of practice, and on Friday head coach Mike McDaniel revealed he underwent a surgical procedure on his right knee.

McDaniel labeled the procedure minor, which means it was likely a procedure to clean up loose particles in the knee. Claypool, who has played in three games and caught one pass for 15 yards on his two targets, hasn't practiced in two weeks.

But the Dolphins opted against placing Claypool on injured reserve, which would have forced him to miss four games.

Claypool, who has started 32 NFL games for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears, has played in three games for Miami this season, and caught one pass for 15 yards on his two targets.

Dolphins down receivers

Receiver happens to be one of Miami's deepest positions, but it is also the unit that's most plagued with injuries. The Dolphins only have two spots available for players to return from injured reserve, so that might be why Claypool wasn't placed on injured reserve.

Braxton Berrios, who is nursing a hamstring injury, has been limited all week, and his status for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders will likely be a game-time decision.

Fortunately, the Dolphins got River Cracraft back from injured reserve, where he's spent the past four games because of a shoulder injury. If Berrios doesn't play against Las Vegas, Cracraft will likely handle the slot receiver role.

Jaylen Waddle (knee) is on the injury report, but listed as a full participant. 

The Dolphins released Robbie Chosen on Thursday, making room for rookie tailback De'Von Achane to be activated to the 53-man roster, with the hope of re-signing Chosen to the practice squad if he clears waivers Friday.

"That's not in our hands," McDaniel said when asked about re-signing Chosen to the practice squad. "I can't say more about the commitment Robbie has made to this team.....I see him as part of this team and hope to get him back."

Every player released after the trade deadline must pass through waivers.

It seems as if Chosen's original team, the New York Jets, might consider claiming him.

.@Connor_J_Hughes asked #Jets HC Robert Saleh considering the injuries at WR would they explore adding WR Robbie Chosen (@chosen1ra) who just got waived by the #Dolphins?

‘I know Joe [Douglas] will always turn over every stone’ + reminisced about the 57 yard TD he burned them… pic.twitter.com/w878MreNGq

— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) November 17, 2023

Robert Hunt held out of second game

Claypool was one of three players who was not spotted during the open portion of practice Friday, along with offensive linemen Robert Hunt and Robert Jones.

Hunt, the Dolphins' starting right guard, will be held out of his second straight game because of the hamstring injury he suffered in Miami's win over New England.

Before this injury Hunt had played in every NFL game for three-plus seasons.

Lester Cotton will man the left guard spot, making his third straight start for the Dolphins, and Liam Eichenberg will fill in for Hunt as the starting right guard.

The Dolphins will likely have to elevate rookie center Alama Uluave or veteran lineman Chasen Hines from the practice squad to serve as the backup center for the Raiders game.

Kendall Lamm and Kion Smith are the only other available offensive line backups on the 53-man roster, and both are tackles. However, Smith has spent some training camp snaps working at offensive guard.