Darren Waller decided to un-retire from the NFL just before the 2025 season, joining the Miami Dolphins to play under Mike McDaniel after a one-year absence. But he suffered an injury a few weeks after his debut and was placed on the injured reserve.
As of Week 11, he remains on injured reserve due to a pectoral injury suffered in Week 7 against the Cleveland Browns. The injury came at the worst possible time: He scored four touchdowns in his first three games and, in a season that has not gone as planned for the Dolphins, he was making a significant impact.
When can Darren Waller return to play?
His earliest potential return is in Week 13, when the Dolphins return from their bye week against the New Orleans Saints.
Players who are placed on the injured reserve must miss a minimum of four games. He was placed on IR after Week 7 and has already missed three games. He’ll also be out for the Dolphins game in Week 11 against the Washington Commanders, which will be played in Madrid, Spain.
Miami has a bye week in Week 12, adding one extra week of recovery for the tight end. However, the seriousness of the injury could lead Waller to miss an extended period to focus on his recovery.
How did Waller’s absence impact the Dolphins?
Losing Waller became an instant problem for Miami. He suffered a torn pectoral in Week 7, and Tua Tagovailoa ended that game with zero touchdowns, three interceptions, and just 100 passing yards.
However, nothing was affected more than the Dolphins’ red-zone production. Since Waller got injured, no other tight end on the roster scored a touchdown. The starter since then has been Julian Hill, but he has just 77 yards in the entire season. The Dolphins are also missing Tyreek Hill, who suffered a serious knee injury with multiple torn ligaments.
Waller played in just three and a half games, but he’s currently second on the team with four receiving touchdowns. In fact, he is the only tight end from the team to be ranked in the top 20 of PFSN’s Tight End Impact with a score of 77.8, ranking 18th this season.
In a year where nothing seems to be going well for the Dolphins, missing a key offensive player who was being a difference-maker only adds to their misery since last year.
Tight end Jonnu Smith was the only Pro Bowler from Miami in 2024, but he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers before the season. The win against the Buffalo Bills brought good vibes to the locker room, but it was nothing more than a feel-good moment in a bad season.
