While the Dolphins lured tight end Darren Waller out of retirement last month, he has been on the physically unable to perform list and unable to practice in training camp. In his Monday press conference, head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that Waller could be on the field in the coming days. “This is where we thought a realistic assessment would be made, we’re kind of making that daily,” McDaniel said. “I’m expecting to see him sooner than later. In the back of my mind, it would be this week, but I’m not going to just put him out there this week just because I said it before. “I’m hopeful, but it’s very soon so we’re just making sure all our ducks are in a row before we take that listing off of him.” Waller, 32, hasn’t played since the 2023 season when he was with the Giants. That season, he caught 52 passes for 552 yards with one touchdown in 12 games. The Dolphins currently have Pharaoh Brown, Tanner Conner, Julian Hill, Chris Myrick, and Hayden Rucci healthy at the tight end position on their roster.
Oh goodie! I was hoping he'd get out there and play some football soon for us. This to me just feels like another Odell Beckham repeat. Meanwhile, you have guys like Tanner Connor who will run through brick walls in order to stay in this league. It really wouldn't surprise me if we end up cutting Waller. He really needed to stay healthy through all of this, and as soon as he signed his name on the contract, he was injured. Grier has to quit with these types. When will he learn? I don't normally trash Grier, but his fixation with signing often-injured players is really annoying.
The team announced on Wednesday that Waller has been activated from the physically unable to perform list. The move allows Waller to get on the practice field for the first time since joining the team. Waller retired ahead of the 2024 season and the Giants traded him to the Dolphins in July when he expressed interest in returning to action. He had 52 catches for 552 yards and one touchdown for the Giants in 2023. The Dolphins traded Jonnu Smith to the Steelers earlier this year. Julian Hill, Pharaoh Brown, Tanner Conner, Chris Myarick, and Hayden Rucci are the other tight ends in Miami.
While the circumstances are different, I wonder if Waller's progress is actually fairly to Jonnu's last year. He started slowly, basically not part of the offense in three of the first four games. Then he was used more at New England when McDaniel finally decided to run the ball and use a short passing game with Tua out, and following that Tua really took advantage of what Jonnu could bring to the table with Tyreek playing hurt. I don't expect or hope Waller's total production to match what Jonnu ended up with. But that if he's going to add something to the team, it will probably end up being 3 or 4 catches a week starting in October.
This whole signing seems like a farce to me. It took him 7 weeks to get in good enough shape to practice with the team?? That is laughable. Or maybe he was in decent enough shape, but milked it so he didn’t have to get hit in joint practices/preseason. (He has a history of being soft). Either way I’m not sure what he is going to prove in one week of practice that will get him on the 53.
