Darren Waller immediately became a force for the Miami Dolphins’ offense after joining the team before Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season. In just three games, he racked up 10 receptions on 12 targets for an impressive 117 yards and four touchdowns, providing a much-needed spark.
However, the veteran tight end suffered a pectoral injury in Week 7 and has been sidelined ever since. After being placed on the injured reserve list, head coach Mike McDaniel recently provided an update on his potential return.
When Can the Dolphins Expect Darren Waller to Return?
Waller was placed on the injured reserve list with a pectoral issue ahead of Miami’s Week 8 game against the Atlanta Falcons. This designation requires him to miss a minimum of four games. Factoring in the team’s Week 9 bye, the earliest he is eligible to return is for the Week 13 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
Initially, when he was placed on the list, there was speculation that he could be out for the remainder of the 2025 NFL season. That no longer appears to be the case. Head coach Mike McDaniel told “Sun Sentinel” reporters that he expects his tight end to return this year.
Miami’s best play calling, ironically enough, came on the three plays directly following Tyreek Hill’s injury.
Watch Mike McDaniel’s ability to use his new addition, Darren Waller, to manipulate personnel and ultimately score. pic.twitter.com/bytxHIyXtt
— Tyler DeSena (@desena_tyler) October 2, 2025
The timing of Waller’s absence is especially damaging because the Dolphins are already playing without superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who previously suffered a season-ending injury. This makes the loss of Waller, who was highly productive in his short time with the team, even more devastating.
The depth chart issues don’t end there. Julian Hill, Waller’s primary replacement, was injured last week, leaving the Dolphins extremely thin at the tight end position. Currently, their other options are Tanner Conner and Greg Dulcich.
This long list of injuries has forced Jaylen Waddle into a massive role in the passing game. He has recorded at least 95 receiving yards in three of his past four games and is expected to handle as large a workload as he can manage moving forward.
With a disappointing 2-6 record, the Dolphins need to string together some wins in the coming weeks to get back into playoff contention. Losing Waller will make that challenge even more difficult. If they can survive their next three games against the Ravens, Bills, and Commanders, his return could provide a significant boost for the season’s final stretch.
