It's not the way the Miami Dolphins would've wanted Malik Washington to come into prominence.
But sometimes football has a way of sorting itself into a new arrangement all by itself.
Washington was the Dolphins' No. 3 wide receiver, but now he's WR2.
Tyreek Hill is out for the foreseeable future after an ugly knee injury on Monday night. Washington has no choice but to move up the WR depth chart.
During the MNF win over the Jets, Washington had two runs for eight yards and two catches for 13 yards.
But if head coach Mike McDaniel can do things right, Washington should have a bigger role going forward with Hill out.
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The Dolphins need that to work, because they can't really tank on this season. They're paying Tua Tagovailoa way too much money as their quarterback to just punt until next year.
The hope was that Tua would stay healthy along with Hill and Jaylen Waddle. But one of the cogs in that operation is now down for the count.
Enter Washington, an explosive wideout in his own right who is a heck of a lot like Waddle and Hill as far as his traits go.
Miami has looked for distinct ways to get him the ball for over a season now. But it'll be up to Washington to fill more of a traditional receiver role now, too, with Hill out.
If Washington can do that, the Dolphins might hang in there.
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