The Miami Dolphins created buzz in July when they signed previously retired tight end Darren Waller, but through two weeks, the 33-year-old has yet to make his debut. Waller last played in 2023 with the Giants, posting 552 yards and 52 catches, but questions remain about whether he can regain his form. For now, the Dolphins have leaned exclusively on Tanner Conner at tight end, who has managed just two receptions for 20 yards on four targets this season. Miami's offense has struggled to find consistent balance, and while the passing attack should feature plenty of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle (if active), the lack of production at tight end remains a glaring hole. Fantasy managers should continue to leave Waller on waivers until there's clarity about his role and timeline for return.
Sep 17, 2025 2:31 PM EST
Although Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (hip) is not expected to make his debut with the team in Week 3 on Thursday night against the division-rival Buffalo Bills, the Dolphins listed him as limited on Monday's practice estimation. Waller has yet to practice this year and has been inactive for the first two weeks, so his limited status on Monday doesn't mean a whole lot on a short week. The 33-year-old was focusing on his conditioning for all of training camp and the preseason before suffering a hip injury right before Week 1. Whenever he is finally cleared to make his 2025 debut after coming out of retirement, the Dolphins will likely limit his snaps, making him one to avoid in starting fantasy lineups. The Dolphins are expected to move forward with Julian Hill and Tanner Conner at the position on Thursday, but neither TE is a realistic fantasy play.
Sep 15, 2025 6:31 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (hip) is not expected to play in Thursday's Week 3 contest against the Buffalo Bills, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Waller came out of retirement to start a new chapter of his career with Miami this offseason, but his Dolphins debut has been put on hold as he works his way back from a hip injury he suffered during training camp. The veteran hasn't played in an NFL game since 2023 with the Giants, when he caught 52 passes for 552 yards and one touchdown. Even when Waller is healthy enough to play again, he'll be off the fantasy radar given his declining productivity and role in an offense that doesn't emphasize passing to the tight end.
Sep 15, 2025 12:23 AM EST
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said that tight end Darren Waller (hip) will be out in Week 2 against the division-rival New England Patriots. Waller has not practiced this week and will miss his second straight game in 2025 after coming out of retirement to join the Dolphins. The 32-year-old was ramping up all summer during training camp after not playing at all in 2024, and he suffered a hip injury in practice last week. His injury doesn't appear to be very serious, but the Dolphins aren't going to take any chances with a player who sat out all of last year. It remains to be seen if Waller will be able to make his Dolphins debut in Week 3 against the division-rival Buffalo Bills, but it's probably unlikely, given that it will be on a short week next Thursday night. Tanner Conner and Julian Hill will continue to fill in at TE, but neither player will be an acceptable fantasy streamer in Week 2.
Sep 12, 2025 12:14 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (hip) was not seen at Wednesday's practice session, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. Head coach Mike McDaniel said he thinks he'll have a better read on Waller's status for Week 2 later in the week, but after Waller did not practice at all last week before being inactive for the Week 1 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, it sure doesn't look like he's trending in the right direction to make his Dolphins debut this Sunday against the division-rival New England Patriots. Fantasy managers in 12-team leagues should be leaving the 32-year-old veteran on the waiver wire for now. If Waller misses a second straight game this weekend, Julian Hill and Tanner Conner will both pick up more playing time, but they won't be recommended fantasy streamers in a Dolphins offense that was putrid in the season opener.
Sep 10, 2025 3:11 PM EST
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel offered a vague and worrying update on the status of veteran tight end Darren Waller (hip) on Wednesday. McDaniel said he "expects to not know what to expect" on Waller and that the team "may get to a point where we realize the risk is too great for the rest of the season." Waller missed Miami's season-opener with a hip injury. It's unclear if McDaniel is referencing the status of Waller's hip or the risk of his general health, which has been an issue for the veteran throughout his career. Waller was retired from the NFL in 2024 and only suited up in more than 12 games twice out of eight seasons from 2015 through 2023. He should remain off the radar of fantasy managers for the time being.
Sep 10, 2025 11:56 AM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (hip) was unable to practice all week and was officially ruled out for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, per Travis Wingfield of MiamiDolphins.com. Waller retired and did not play football in 2024 but came out of retirement to play for the Dolphins this season. Miami took it easy on him this summer in training camp as he worked his way back into football shape before suffering a setback with his hip before Thursday's practice. The 32-year-old veteran will now miss the season opener and could also be in danger of sitting out in Week 2 against the division-rival New England Patiots. At best, Waller is a bench stash as a TE2 in deeper leagues while he tries to get into shape and overcome a hip ailment. Fantasy managers should ignore Julian Hill and Tanner Conner, who will split TE duties with Waller sidelined.
Sep 5, 2025 5:07 PM EST
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said that tight end Darren Waller (hip) suffered a setback before Thursday's practice and is now doubtful to play in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. The Dolphins have been easing Waller in all training camp after he came out of retirement to join the team in the offseason. The 32-year-old was working on his conditioning during camp, but now he's dealing with a hip injury and isn't expected to play in the season opener. Fantasy managers that took a flier on Waller late in drafts in deeper leagues are going to need to be patient if they are going to hang onto him, but it's starting to look like it might be a while before he contributes in the passing game. Julian Hill and Tanner Conner are next up at the position, but fantasy managers should look elsewhere.
Sep 5, 2025 12:11 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (hip) was officially listed as a non-participant for the second straight day at practice on Thursday, according to Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post. The Dolphins are bringing Waller along slowly after he was in retirement all of last year, but his absence from practice on Thursday is a bit concerning after head coach Mike McDaniel said on Wednesday that he would return the following day. The 32-year-old veteran is also listed with an actual injury for the first time since coming out of retirement to join the team. All summer, the Dolphins were taking it easy on Waller to get his conditioning up to speed. He will have one more chance on Friday to get back on the practice field before Sunday's Week 1 season opener against the Colts. Even if Waller is active, he'll likely be on a snap count, so he can't realistically be trusted in starting fantasy lineups.
Sep 4, 2025 6:15 PM EST
The Miami Dolphins have listed veteran Darren Waller as their starting tight end on the official depth chart, placing him ahead of Julian Hill and Tanner Conner. Waller briefly retired before last year but returned to the NFL this offseason, landing in Miami via trade from the New York Giants. The Dolphins are counting on Waller to help replace former Pro Bowler Jonnu Smith, who was traded to Pittsburgh in a blockbuster trade. While Waller did not practice on Wednesday due to a hip issue, the team emphasized that he has not suffered any setbacks and remains on a ramp-up schedule. Miami opens the season on the road against the Indianapolis Colts, and the Dolphins are hopeful their new starting tight end will be active in Week 1.
Sep 4, 2025 10:52 AM EST
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said that the team is being very intentional with tight end Darren Waller's practice workload, and he will not be out at practice with the rest of the team on Wednesday by design, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. The Dolphins continue to ramp up Waller's workload heading into this Sunday's regular-season opener against the Indianapolis Colts after the 32-year-old veteran was out of football all of last year. Waller came out of retirement to play for the Dolphins after they traded Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason. While Waller is expected to be active against the Colts in Week 1, he's unlikely to be on the field all that much, which means fantasy managers should be avoiding him in their starting lineups out of the gates. It's hard to project Waller's production this year, but at best, he's a TE2 stash for now.
Sep 3, 2025 1:31 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (return to football) is on track to play in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. Miami has been bringing Waller along slowly after he spent the 2024 season retired from football. The soon-to-be 33-year-old projects as the team's clear top receiving threat at the tight end position, but it's hard to know how effective he will be at this point in his career. Waller last played in 12 games for the New York Giants in 2023, recording 52 catches for 552 yards and one touchdown. He should not be drafted in the majority of fantasy leagues, but his role in Miami's offense is worth monitoring early in the season.
Sep 1, 2025 11:59 AM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller said he has "to knock some rust off" after the team's practice on Wednesday, per Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. Waller did not practice during training camp, as the team has said they want to take things slow with his return from retirement. The soon-to-be 33-year-old last played in 2023 for the New York Giants, catching 52 passes for 552 yards and one touchdown across 12 games. Even before his one-year hiatus, Waller had a tough time avoiding injuries. He's played in more than 12 games just twice in his eight-year NFL career. Waller has some upside from a fantasy perspective, but he should be off the radar of fantasy managers until he proves he can stay on the field and his role in Miami's offense becomes clearer.
Aug 29, 2025 10:17 AM EST
Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said newly signed tight end Darren Waller is not injured, but rather taking things "cautiously," according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. The veteran came out of retirement to sign with Miami, so the club has opted to take things slowly in practice as they approach the first week, according to Grier. Jonnu Smith had a breakout season playing for the Dolphins a year ago, piling up 88 catches and eight touchdowns, but was traded to Pittsburgh during the offseason. Waller figures to be the team's top receiving option from the tight end spot.
Aug 27, 2025 10:54 AM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller "has continued his progression" and will be seen more and more this week, head coach Mike McDaniel told members of the media, including C. Isaiah Smalls II. Waller spent most of the summer on the PUP list as he underwent basic conditioning upon returning to the NFL. Acquired from the Giants this offseason, Waller unretired and is ramping up his participation in practice. At this rate, it seems likely that Waller will be available for the Dolphins' season opener Sept. 7 against the Indianapolis Colts. RotoBaller's NFL experts currently rank Waller as the TE26 heading into the 2025 fantasy football season.
Aug 26, 2025 12:00 AM EST
The Miami Dolphins have activated recently acquired tight end Darren Waller from the physically unable to perform list. The Dolphins traded a 2026 6th-round pick to the New York Giants in July for Waller and a conditional 7th. Waller came out of retirement to join the Dolphins after Miami traded incumbent tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Waller turns 33 in September, and he has been out of football for over a year, last seeing game action with the Giants in the 2023 season. Should the Dolphins' offense operate anything like it did last season, there will be ample opportunity for Waller to eventually work the short-to-intermediate area of the field where Smith saw the majority of his 109 targets, good enough for 4th amongst tight ends. While Waller's game was always at its best when his trademark athleticism was used to stretch the field, it remains to be seen just how much juice he has left. However, a safety valve role for Tua Tagovailoa could create enough of a floor to keep Waller fantasy relevant one more time.
Aug 20, 2025 10:46 AM EST
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said the team is targeting this week for the practice debut of tight end Darren Waller, though nothing is finalized. The 32-year-old hasn't played since 2023 with the Giants, when he caught 52 passes for 552 yards and one touchdown. Waller enters a wide-open tight end room in Miami and could push for immediate starting duties. If healthy, he adds another dynamic weapon to an already explosive offense featuring Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De'Von Achane, making him a late-round fantasy sleeper.
Aug 18, 2025 7:43 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller will not join the team for training camp practices this week, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. Waller began camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list due to conditioning issues after coming out of retirement, and McDaniel isn't ready to throw him iinto the fire during joint practices this week with the Detroit Lions. The 32-year-old veteran will continue to work on his conditioning after not playing at all in 2024, but he's unlikely to come off the PUP list and play in the second preseason game this Saturday against the Lions. Waller had back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2019 and 2020 with the Raiders, but it's fair to wonder if he has that kind of production in him at this point in his career. He's worth a late-round flier as a TE2 given the weak nature of the position, but don't expect him to put up the numbers that Jonnu Smith did in Miami in 2024.
Aug 12, 2025 1:19 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller is about a week away from practicing, according to Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. The veteran tight end has spent the start of training camp on the PUP list with an undisclosed injury. However, it appears the 32-year-old is nearing a return to the practice field. The Dolphins acquired Waller earlier in the offseason via trade with the Giants. Waller retired from football in June of 2024 but will now fill a vacancy in Miami after Jonnu Smith was shipped to Pittsburgh. Waller's last season in the NFL was in 2023 with the Giants. Across 12 games, he caught 52 passes for 552 yards. While he has dealt with numerous injuries during his career, he has flashed elite upside at times, especially with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders. Given that he will likely operate as the clear TE1 in Miami, he could be worth a look as a late-round TE2 in deeper formats.
Aug 6, 2025 9:08 AM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller will be ready for Week 1, agent Drew Rosenhaus declared. "I don't think there's any doubt that Darren will be ready for the start of the regular season," Rosenhaus told Josh Moser. Waller sat out last season after announcing his retirement, but the Dolphins surprisingly acquired him in a trade with the New York Giants in July. The 32-year-old has since ended his retirement to play for Miami, but he's on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list and working back into game shape. Waller is expected to serve as Miami's No. 1 tight end, replacing the departed Jonnu Smith. The Dolphins heavily relied on Smith last year during an 88-catch, 111-target, eight-touchdown campaign. That could bode well for Waller if he's still capable of serving in a starting role. In 2023, his most recent season, he played in 12 games and caught 52 of 74 targets for 552 yards and a touchdown.
Aug 5, 2025 8:49 PM EST
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