Darren Waller’s return is on hold for now.
The Dolphins tight end, who had a promising start this season following his retirement, has been placed on injured reserve due to a pectoral strain.
Waller got hurt during the team’s recent 31-6 defeat to the Browns. He could potentially be back in Week 12, although the struggling Dolphins might have other plans by then.
“It was a soft tissue injury,” Miami coach Mike McDaniel mentioned on Monday. “We’re holding out hope to see him back next week, but he’s going to put in the effort. This is really significant for him, but that’s all the info I have at the moment.”
This year marked Waller’s return to the NFL after he stepped away following a lackluster season with the Giants.
The 33-year-old realized retirement wasn’t his ideal path and was traded to the Dolphins this summer.
After missing the first three weeks due to a hip injury sustained during training camp, he made a notable return in Week 4 against the Jets.
In Miami’s sole victory of the season, which stands at 1-6, he caught three passes for 27 yards and scored twice. He followed that up with a solid performance against the Bills, recording five receptions for 78 yards and another touchdown.
Waller had a touchdown again in Week 6 against the Chargers, contributing to a brief three-game win streak that ended abruptly last week when he was ejected without being targeted.
Across four games, he racked up 10 catches for a total of 117 yards and four touchdowns.
Whether this injury will prove to be a significant setback for Waller, especially given his history of injuries and the fact he’s returning from retirement, remains uncertain.
In Waller’s absence, the Dolphins turned to Greg Dulcich from their practice squad.
Miami aims to rebound from the recent heavy loss to Atlanta.
