Caleb Douglas misses his second Dolphins practice of the week

The Minnesota Vikings aren’t the only team in Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins that might be forced to play without its top receiver.

Read more Reports: Jalen Duren returning to Pistons on 5-year, $200m deal

Both Caleb Douglas, the Dolphins rookie standout, and Justin Jefferson, the Vikings’ All-Pro receiver, are nursing ankle injuries.

Neither has practiced with his team this week, which raises the chance they’ll be classified as out, or doubtful for Sunday’s 4:05 p.m. game, which will be played at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Douglas, the Dolphins’ 2026 third-round pick, is working on the side with team trainers. He’s no longer wearing a walking boot inside the facility, but has the ankle recovered enough for him to beginning cutting on it?

This would be the second straight game Douglas, who contributed seven receptions for 113 yards in Miami’s first two games, will miss.

His absence would likely lead to Chris Bell, another rookie receiver, starting his second game, and Jalen Tolbert being active for his second game of the season.

Read more Dolphins coaches dish on replacing Achane, Proctor, bypassing field goals, more

Bell contributed 67 yards on four receptions in Miami’s 24-10 loss over the Kansas City Chiefs which included a 44-yard run after-catch play produced from a slant. His practice participation has been limited the past two weeks because of the knee injury he’s been rehabbing for the past 10 months.

If Jefferson, who has produced six straight seasons of 1,000 receiving yards, doesn’t play, the Vikings’ passing game will lean toward Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings. No other receiver on Minnesota’s 53-man roster — Tai Felton, Jeshaun Jones and Myles Price — has pulled down a reception in the first three games.

Even with Jefferson in the lineup the Vikings have the NFL’s worst offense heading into Week 4 games. Minnesota’s averaging 238.3 total yards a game, and 137 of them are from the passing attack.

For comparison, the Dolphins are averaging 290.7 total yards per game, which ranks 26th, and 192.3 passing yards per contest, which ranks 23rd.

Read more Carrollton, Columbus, Ransom Everglades excel in Youth Fair golf. Plus bowling, swimming, more golf