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Dolphins Coach Mike McDaniel Announces Darren Waller Decision on Saturday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Sep 27, 2025 12:23 PM ET

Darren Waller’s path to the Miami Dolphins has been one of the more intriguing storylines of the offseason. The veteran tight end, who briefly stepped away from football, came out of retirement and was officially traded from the New York Giants on July 1. Miami sent a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Giants in exchange for Waller's rights and a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick. Waller later signed a one-year deal worth up to $5 million, giving the Dolphins a veteran addition to their roster.

Expectations for his debut were high, but a hip injury suffered during training camp kept him sidelined. He has missed each of the first three weeks of the regular season, forcing the Dolphins to play without the Pro Bowl tight end.

The hip issue that delayed Waller’s debut has been carefully managed since late summer. Listed as limited on the injury report in recent practices, he has been gradually increasing his workload but remained unavailable for game action through Week 3. Miami’s medical staff and coaching staff wanted to ensure he was fully ready before exposing him to a live NFL game.

On Saturday, head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed that Waller is set to make his long-awaited Dolphins debut Monday night against the New York Jets, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

#Dolphins TE Darren Waller is set to make his debut Monday night against the #Jets, coach Mike McDaniel said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 27, 2025

While Miami is still searching for its first win of the season, having Waller available offers an important boost. He has been among the league’s most dynamic tight ends when healthy, producing multiple 1,000-yard seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders and earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2020. His size and athleticism allow him to stretch defenses vertically, create mismatches against linebackers and become a reliable red-zone target.

Miami parted ways with Jonnu Smith earlier in the year, signaling its belief that Waller could provide a major upgrade at the position. His presence gives the Dolphins a new weapon to support their passing game, especially as they look to find balance and consistency on offense.

The Dolphins will host the Jets under the prime-time lights of "Monday Night Football," with kickoff scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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