Darren Waller pulled a big surprise this offseason when it was revealed that he was coming out of retirement and getting traded to the Miami Dolphins. However, the same injury issues that plagued him in recent years resurfaced, which caused him to miss the first three games of the season.
He was finally able to make his Dolphins debut in Week 4, and he showed again why he was once considered one of the best tight ends in the NFL. He only had three catches for 27 yards, but two of those catches went for touchdowns.
Waller helped Miami get their first win of the season against the New York Jets. If he can stay healthy, he’s going to be a big part of the Dolphins‘ offense going forward.
While Waller is now on his fourth team, he’s best known for his stint with the Las Vegas Raiders. Former head coach Jon Gruden was a big reason why Waller went from a practice squad player to a Pro Bowler. He was very excited to see Waller score his first touchdown since coming out of retirement.
Derek Carr was Waller’s quarterback during his Raiders tenure, and he was also excited to see his former teammate thriving again.
Though the Gruden, Carr and Waller Raiders team is long in the past, they were able to form a long-term bond.
Waller Wants Dolphins to Rely on Him
Waller has proven that he can be a dominant offensive force. From 2019 to 2020, he had combined for 197 catches and 2,341 yards. His combination of size and speed makes him very difficult for a defense to cover.
The only real issue he has is that he just can’t stay healthy. He’s hoping that his body is finally right and wants to be an important player for the Dolphins going forward.
“It’s a lot to process,” Waller said after the Jets win. “Very exciting, just very exciting, just to be out there the whole day. Little bit of fear, little bit of everything, you know? I haven’t really been practicing a ton, haven’t really done a lot with the team, so it’s like, ‘I’ve got to find a way to get back out there and get into a rhythm and just be somebody that this team can rely on and give this team a return on their investment.’”
Mike McDaniel Praises Waller
It hasn’t been an easy road for Waller to get here. The last few seasons were very trying for the tight end, which is why he was forced into retirement.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was inspired by Waller’s perseverance.
“It inspires me, and I think it inspires his teammates,” McDaniel told reporters. “A guy that has a love for the game of football and does the journey to get back.”
“Everybody kind of I think empathized, but at the same time, it’s tough when you get to a new team and then you’re a partial participator, and it takes a while,” McDaniel added. “All he’s done is everything that he possibly can do and put his best foot forward, and he has been a phenomenal contributor to our team.”
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