The Miami Dolphins made a few interesting moves over the offseason, namely, their decision to trade away Jonnu Smith and trade for Darren Waller to shake up their tight end room.
While taking a risk on someone coming out of retirement like Waller was a risk, it was one that, for the most part, worked out for the Dolphins.
But, with just one week to go in the 2025 season, the Dolphins, as Underdog NFL shared, are placing Waller on season-ending injured reserve. The former New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders tight end's 2025 season is over.
Dolphins place TE Darren Waller on season-ending IR
Waller, the Pro Bowler who was retired for the 2024 NFL Season, came back and played in nine games for the Dolphins in 2025.
Despite dealing with a few injuries all year and now landing on IR with a groin issue, Waller was very productive for the Dolphins this season.
In his nine games played, he caught 24 of 34 targets for 283 yards and six touchdowns. He was a very productive redzone weapon for Mike McDaniel and was a quality option all year when he played.
In Week 17, he caught just one pass for zero yards in the final week of his return season from retirement. A few weeks before, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had seven receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns in his best game of the year.
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Waller was impressive in 2025 and was only acquired at the cost of a late-round pick swap with the Giants, with a 2026 6th going to New York and a 2027 7th coming to Miami along with Waller.
He didn't play the full season and had inconsistent production this season. But, overall, the trade for Waller worked out great for Miami. He was impressive enough that he could stay unretired for another year, as the 33-year-old proved he still has it.
But, for the 2025 season, Waller's year is over as he lands on injured reserve ahead of the Dolphins' regular season finale against the New England Patriots.
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