Allen Hurns chances of making the Dolphins roster took a hit today. The veteran wideout suffered a wrist injury that will require surgery, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The injury is expected to sideline Hurns for three months.
This is a tough break for the receiver, especially since the veteran was already eyeing an uphill battle to make the roster. The organization brought in veteran Will Fuller, sixth-overall pick Jaylen Waddle, and third rounder Lynn Bowden Jr. this past offseason, and they’ll also return 2020 starters DeVante Parker and Preston Williams, meaning the team has five receivers already locked in. Considering the 29-year-old Hurns was set to begin a two-year, $8M extension this upcoming season, it wouldn’t have been a huge surprise if the organization opted for a younger, less-expensive alternative. The team could still realistically stash Hurns on their injured reserve, but the front office may just prefer the extra financial savings (especially if they don’t envision Hurns seeing the field when healthy).
Back in 2015, Hurns looked like a future star in Jacksonville, as the wideout collected 1,031 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns during his second season in the NFL. The receiver hasn’t managed to match those numbers since, but he still appeared in at least 10 games per season between 2016 and 2019, and he’s earned three contracts since his stint with the Jaguars ended after the 2017 campaign.
He signed with the Dolphins before the 2019 season, and after only a few months with the organization, the team was willing to give the receiver a two-year extension worth $8M (with more than $3M in guaranteed money). Hurns didn’t put up stellar numbers during his first season in Miami, finishing with 416 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 2020 would have been the first season of the veteran’s extension, but Hurns decided to opt out of the 2020 campaign.
More must-reads: