In what seems like one of the most unexpected developments of the 2025 NFL season, the Miami Dolphins suddenly find themselves on a two-game winning streak. Earlier in the year, the situation had become so dire that calls to fire the head coach and quarterback were circulating weekly.
Eventually, the organization digressed and let go of general manager Chris Grier, who had been with the franchise for a quarter century, ahead of the trade deadline. However, the surge in momentum following that move could improve even further if the team can become healthier, starting with tight end Darren Waller.
When Will Darren Waller Return?
A sixth-round pick for the Baltimore Ravens in 2015, it wasn’t until his second year with the then Oakland Raiders, and fifth overall in the NFL, that Waller truly took over as a top-tier tight end.
Exploding for 1,145 receiving yards in 2019, it was in stark contrast to the 178 yards he had through the previous four seasons combined. Earning a Pro Bowl nod the following year, he had an even better season, with 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns.
However, injuries hampered the rest of his career, with the Georgia Tech product never playing more than 12 games in a season. Eventually, after the 2023 campaign, he decided to retire from the NFL.
But the itch came back a year later, and he found himself on the Miami roster. A hip injury suffered during training camp delayed the start of his 2025 campaign. But once he joined the lineup in Week 4, he made an immediate impact for the Dolphins.
In that game, he had two touchdowns on just three receptions. A week later, his numbers took another leap, as he gained 78 yards and scored a touchdown. Next week, he added another touchdown to the total.
That’s when his streak of good luck when it comes to injuries ran out. Initially appearing on the injury report before the game against the Cleveland Browns, the situation got worse during the game.
A pectoral injury placed him on the injured reserve list, and he hasn’t seen any action since. However, with the Dolphins entering their bye week, the franchise is hoping to get a contingency of its players currently on IR back in the lineup.
Head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed as much, as the team tries to salvage a season that started in the worst way imaginable. “We’re going to have a good collection of guys coming back,” he said on Monday. “We do have some time before those next week’s practices occur.”
“In that time, we’ll be settling some [practice] windows that could or could not open, but there will be some activity, and so we look forward to getting some guys back healthy.” After back-to-back victories over the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Commanders, they are entering their week off with some momentum.
Potentially getting healthier, particularly with Waller helping an offense that has just three players with 20 or more targets, their streak could extend further, and give the organization some optimism about their position heading into 2026.
