The Miami Dolphins still haven’t seen Darren Waller in action since trading for the recently retired tight end in July.
Waller, who turns 33 on Saturday, spent most of training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, didn’t appear in a preseason game, and was scratched from Miami’s Week 1 game against the Indianapolis Colts. After not practicing Wednesday or Thursday due to a hip strain, Waller’s debut with the Dolphins doesn’t appear likely to happen Sunday against the New England Patriots.
“It’s been frustrating and challenging,” Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith said of Waller’s delayed introduction. “It’s just he wants to be a part, wants to contribute, and to see the joy he’s having in his time here. And it’s just staying true to the process and not trying to push yourself too quickly so you incur anything. It’s always how he is, he’s working as hard as you can to be ready to go and he’s sticking to his process. I enjoy seeing him around everyday because he has just such an energy to him.”
The Dolphins gave a 2026 sixth-round pick to the New York Giants to acquire Waller, who spent the 2024 season in retirement. The deal reunited the tight end with Smith, who was the tight ends coach for the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders from 2018 to 2020, Waller’s first three seasons with the team. In 2019 and 2020, Waller recorded a combined 197 receptions for 2,341 yards and 12 touchdowns.
In March, Waller told former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden that he and Smith were the only two coaches he’d consider ending his retirement for.
“He’s trying to play,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said of Waller earlier this week. “Shoot, I think we have two games in 11 days, right, so he’s trying to play as best he can on this next one. If he can’t, he’ll try to play in the next game and we’ll take it that way.”
Julian Hill and Tanner Conner are the other two tight ends on the Dolphins’ active roster. Conner recorded two receptions for 20 yards in Miami’s Week 1 loss.
