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Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel Shares Unfortunate News Ahead of NFL Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Sep 5, 2025 12:05 PM ET

The Miami Dolphins had a season to forget last year. Head coach Mike McDaniel's team went 8-9 in the regular season, finishing second in the AFC East and missing out on the playoffs. This offseason, in hopes of getting back to the postseason, the Dolphins signed veteran tight end Darren Waller to help the offensive attack.

Waller, who retired from the NFL after spending the 2023 season with the New York Giants, signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Dolphins in July to rejuvenate his career.

On Friday, though, McDaniel gave a disappointing update on Waller as the Dolphins prepare for their Week 1 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

McDaniel told reporters that Waller, who has been dealing with a hip injury this week, faced a setback before Thursday's practice and is doubtful to play on Sunday, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques.

Waller was likely to be the starting tight end for the Dolphins to begin the season. However, with this news, third-year tight end Julian Hill is the probable starter.

This is an unfortunate beginning to Waller's time in Miami. The 32-year-old has played in 86 games across eight NFL seasons. His best years came with the Las Vegas Raiders organization, where he spent five years. In that time, Waller had 286 receptions for 3,469 yards and 17 touchdowns. This included a Pro Bowl appearance in 2020.

With this injury setback, Waller may have to wait another week before starting the revival of his career.

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

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