Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller has been a steady target for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, even though the Dolphins enter their game on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns with a 1-5 record.
Waller was expected to contribute in a big way for the Dolphins, but unfortunately, he got hurt in Week 7.
What Happened to Dolphins’ TE Darren Waller?
Waller suffered a pectoral injury during Sunday’s game. The Dolphins reported on their X account, in a post on X, that Waller is questionable to return.
In the first half, Waller did not have a reception. It’s rare to see Waller go through a half without being directly involved in the Dolphins’ offense. At halftime, Miami trailed the Browns 17-6.
Injury Update | Darren Waller has a pectoral injury and is questionable to return.
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) October 19, 2025
Without Waller back on the field, it might be a long second half for Miami, Tagovailoa, and Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. This all comes a week after Tagovailoa made some comments about his teammates, comments that were later discounted by McDaniel.
In the PFSN Offense Impact metrics, the Dolphins offense has a 77.1 Offense Impact Score and grades out at a C+.
When the Dolphins got the ball back in the second half, Tagovailoa threw an interception, and the Browns went up 24-6. Some Dolphins fans may want to see former Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers, who is Tagovailoa’s backup on Sunday, get some playing time.
Waller was a sixth-round draft choice by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Georgia Tech. So far this season, Waller has 10 catches for 117 yards and four touchdowns. Waller actually retired after the 2023 season and has played for the Ravens, Oakland-Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Giants before coming back into the league with the Dolphins.
Without Waller on the field, McDaniel will have to turn to Julian Hill, who is at the No. 2 spot on the Dolphins’ tight end depth chart, to pick up the pace. Tagovailoa probably hopes that Waller can find a way to return to the field in Kansas City.
He needs a solid target out there if the Dolphins are going to come back from being against the Browns and Dillon Gabriel, who is having a great game in front of the home fans.
Tagovailoa also might want Waller out there if he’s going to remain as the Miami starter at quarterback, something Dolphins fans are yelling about online. They want to see Ewers get a chance on Sunday. Will McDaniel pull the trigger and make a change at QB?
