Darren Waller is on the verge of playing in his first NFL game since the 2023 season when his Miami Dolphins take on the New York Jets on Monday Night Football in week four. Waller, who retired after his 2023 season with the New York Giants, came out of retirement to join the Dolphins, but hasn’t been able to suit up in a game yet as he’s worked through a hip injury.
Waller talked to the media about his potential return after a long absence from the game of football.
“It’s still a process of wrapping my head around it,” Waller said. “It’s like riding a bike a little bit, but at the same time it’s a challenge. You can’t walk out on an NFL field and expect things to be easy or expect things to be how they once were, you’ve got to earn it at all times.”
Waller was elevated to a limited participant in each practice heading into week three, but was unable to play against Buffalo. Now, with the Jets on docket, Waller is still a limited participant, but the plan is for him to take the field Monday night with a limited workload.
“The plan is playing Monday, increase my reps through the week, but limited package on Monday,” Waller said.
“I trust the plan that the coaches and the performance staff have put together for me. I believe it’s the perfect amount for me, it’s challenging but also something where I can continue to build up as the season goes along”
Waller’s Arduous Football Career
Waller has been very open about his struggles with alcohol and drug addictions, which affected him through college and his first few seasons in the NFL. The 33-year-old tight end has been in the NFL since 2015, and has been sober since 2017, after his second season in the NFL. He missed the entire 2017 season before joining the Raiders in 2018.
His career exploded in 2019 when he caught 90 passes for 1,145 yards, which led him to two more strong seasons with Las Vegas before injuries started to pile up in 2022 and 2023, eventually leading to his retirement.
Now, finally at the tail end of his hip ailment, Waller is ready to take the field in the NFL for the first time in nearly two years.
“It’s been a process that’s been a lot longer than I would’ve liked, people with the team would’ve liked,” Waller said. “Got to deal with the reality of a situation like this rather than what I wish it could’ve been. Grateful to still have the opportunity to play in a football game on Monday, looking forward to it.”
Dolphins and Jets Battle For First Win
Miami and New York will both enter Monday night’s game at 0-3, neither team having produced the start to the season they were looking for. One team will be able to grab momentum moving forward after Monday night, while the other may be looking towards 2026 after an 0-4 start.
The weight and importance of the game isn’t lost on Waller just because it’s his return to the NFL.
“I think it’s football at it’s purest form,” Waller said. “You’ve got two teams that are in the position that we’re in, nothing matters but getting a win.”
Waller’s role may be limited, but just having a tight end of his caliber on the field will help Miami, as they’ve gotten next to nothing from their two other tight ends Tanner Conner and Julian Hill, who have a combined four receptions through three weeks.
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