Waller Shines in Dolphins’ Game Against Jets
Darren Waller made his presence felt on Monday night, helping the Miami Dolphins secure a win against the New York Jets.
This marked Waller’s return to the field in the Dolphins’ first game of the 2025 season after a year away from football, during which he played for the New York Giants. He looked revitalized, finding ways to penetrate the Jets’ defense.
Waller recorded two touchdown catches, his first such achievement since his time with the Las Vegas Raiders in December 2020.
The first touchdown occurred in the second quarter, courtesy of a quick throw from Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa managed to drive the Dolphins into the red zone quickly, connecting with Malik Washington and Tyreek Hill for the setup.
The second touchdown followed a 6-play, 36-yard drive in the third quarter, where Tagovailoa again found Waller for a 9-yard score.
Coming back to the game after more than a year away wasn’t easy for Waller. But on this night, it certainly paid off for the Dolphins.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Miami. In the third quarter, Hill suffered a severe knee injury, with reports suggesting the possibility of a dislocated knee. If that turns out to be true, he might be looking at a long recovery and could miss the rest of the season.
Tagovailoa finished the game with 177 passing yards and two touchdown passes. He also contributed with 99 rushing yards and a touchdown from De’Von Achane. Meanwhile, Waller ended the night with three receptions totaling 27 yards, while Hill had six catches for 67 yards before exiting.
On the Jets’ side, Justin Fields was under pressure throughout the game. He needed to conjure some magic in the third and fourth quarters, and he did manage to evade the Dolphins’ defenders to run 43 yards for a touchdown, putting some pressure back on Miami.
New York almost scored a touchdown from Fields to Garrett Wilson, but a pass interference call negated the play, leading the Jets to settle for a field goal instead.
Wilson later redeemed himself with an impressive catch, a highlight amidst an otherwise frustrating night for the Jets.
Throughout the game, New York struggled with penalties, racking up 13 for a total of 101 yards, as well as three turnovers. These errors severely hampered their momentum.
Fields completed 20 of 27 attempts, amassing 227 yards and one touchdown pass to Wilson. He also led his team in rushing yards with 81. Wilson finished with 82 receiving yards on six catches.
With this game, the Jets have now lost ten consecutive matches against the Dolphins, a streak that certainly raises concerns as they move forward in the season.
