The Miami Dolphins turned in a better effort in Week 2, but they ended up suffering their second loss of the season, with the New England Patriots beating them by a score of 33-27. Now, the team has a quick turnaround, as they will play on Thursday Night Football in Week 3, and it sounds like they won’t have one of their top offensive playmakers at their disposal.
Even though the new season is only two games old, the Dolphins have been hit hard by injuries, with one guy who is currently out being veteran tight end Darren Waller. And after not taking the field in either of Miami’s first two contests, it sounds like Waller is trending towards not playing in Week 3 either.
Darren Waller Not Expected to Play in Week 3 for the Dolphins
After spending the 2023 campaign with the New York Giants, Waller opted to retire and call it a career. He spent the entire 2024 season out of football, but after the Dolphins traded Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers, they ended up pulling off a surprise trade with the Giants for Waller, who revealed that he was coming out of retirement.
During his prime with the Las Vegas Raiders, Waller was one of the top tight ends in the league. His best season came in 2020, when he caught 107 passes for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns, which earned him the only Pro Bowl selection of his career. It’s clear he isn’t the same player he once was, and returning from a year away from football is never easy, but Waller figures to be a reliable option for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the passing game.
The problem is that, since getting acquired by Miami, Waller has barely practiced with the team because of a hip injury. While he appears to be making progress in his quest to return to the field, the short week doesn’t help him, and reports indicate that the Dolphins aren’t expecting him to return to action in Week 3.
Per WSVN-7’s Josh Moser (via the weekly Drew Rosenhaus segment), Dolphins TE Darren Waller is not expected to play Thursday at Buffalo. He continues to deal with a hip injury,” Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald shared in a post on X.
Dolphins Set to Be Shorthanded Again in Week 3
GettyWith a short week on the horizon, Darren Waller isn’t expected to suit up for the Dolphins in Week 3 against the Bills
While Miami has playmakers all across its offense, having a security blanket for Tagovailoa in the passing game would certainly be helpful. While the Dolphins looked better against the Patriots, Tagovailoa still doesn’t look totally comfortable under center, despite having guys like Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De’Von Achane at his disposal.
Nobody knows what to expect from Waller in 2025, but first, he has to actually get back on the field. Considering how the Dolphins have a matchup with the Buffalo Bills on their slate, they could certainly use Waller in Week 3. And yet, while his status over the next few days will be worth monitoring, it’s looking increasingly likely that he won’t be able to play on Thursday.
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