How one Dolphins group replaced weekly cake tradition. And injury, playoff news

Last year, when a Dolphins player made a game-changing play, the Dolphins let them eat cake.

Every week, one player who did something particularly meaningful in the previous game was called to the front of the team auditorium and given a cake, often big enough to feed a large family.

The cake giveaway stopped when safeties coach Joe Kasper left the organization this past offseason and accompanied Vic Fangio to the Philadelphia Eagles.

But new outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow had an idea to replace the cake giveaway, at least for the outside linebackers:

Two Dolphins outside linebackers confirmed that edge players who create a takeaway now dip their hand in a pirate’s chest and remove a gift provided by coaches.

“It’s for big time plays,” Emmanuel Ogbah said.

But on one condition. “It’s getting a turnover and we also have to win the game,” linebacker Quinton Bell said.

Problem is, only one Dolphins outside linebacker has created a turnover in a win all season -- Quinton Bell, who forced a fumble in the Rams game. So Bell has been the only Dolphins defender who actually received a gift.

Bell declined to say what he plucked from the pirate’s chest, fearful of sharing too much information for public consumption.

So what types of gifts are in the pirate’s chest? “Designer things,” Bell said. “It’s pretty good stuff in there. I don’t want to say too much.”

Bell said this was “Ryan Crow’s idea. It was something he did in other places. All the coaches bring the stuff in [to fill the chest]. We are all for it. The more motivation we can get to make a play is always good.”

The gift giving apparently is happening only in the outside linebacker room. Anthony Walker and Elijah Campbell said there’s nothing being done similarly with the inside linebackers or safeties. Tight end Julian Hill said “there’s nothing on offense, sadly” similar to last year’s cake giveaway.

Only five teams have fewer takeaways than the Dolphins’ 13. Only three teams have fewer fumble recoveries than the Dolphins’ five. Only eight teams have fewer interceptions than the Dolphins’ eight.

The Dolphins have committed 17 turnovers, giving them a turnover differential of minus four, which is 11th worst in the league.

Injury report

The Dolphins did not practice on Wednesday, but the team was required to release an injury report estimating players’ participation if Miami had practiced.

And that report confirmed that receiver Jaylen Waddle would have missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury that has left his status very dubious for Sunday’s game at Cleveland (4:05 p.m., CBS).

Cornerback Kendall Fuller (knee) also would have missed practice and is unlikely to play this week, Mike McDaniel said.

Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., left tackle Terron Armstead and safety Jordan Poyer also would have missed practiced due to knee injuries, with a finger issue also cited for Poyer.

Five players would have been limited participants: quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip), receivers Tyreek Hill (wrist/rest) and Dee Eskridge (knee), linebacker Jordyn Brooks (quad/knee) and fullback Alec Ingold (ankle).

Defensive lineman Calais Campbell would have received a rest day Wednesday.

The Dolphins convened for meetings on Tuesday (usually an NFL off day) so that coaches and players could be off on Christmas. They will practice on Thursday and Friday.

Playoff update

Kansas City clinched the AFC’s top seed with a victory against Pittsburgh on Wednesday and likely made the Dolphins’ playoff path a bit more difficult.

The Dolphins can make the playoffs by winning at Cleveland and at the Jets, combined with A). Los Angeles Chargers losses at the Patriots and at Raiders and one Colts loss at the Giants or home to Jacksonville; OR B). One Colts loss and Denver losses at Cincinnati and home to Kansas City OR C). Two losses by Denver and two losses by the Chargers.

The path involving Denver seems trickier now because the Chiefs won’t have any particular reason to play some of their starters in their Week 18 finale at Denver, unless they’re fearful of being rusty for their first playoff game on Jan. 18 or 19.

If Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes does not play in that Broncos game, then he will go 23 or 24 days without playing in a game.