Tight end Darren Waller has not been a superstar for the Dolphins this season, but he has been good when available. On a Miami Dolphins team that has been struggling immensely, good play is all the coaching staff is asking for. However, Waller was not available on Thursday when the team lost to the Baltimore Ravens. He is still recovering from an injury he suffered on Oct. 19 against the Cleveland Browns. Here is everything you need to know about his status.
What Happened to Darren Waller?
Darren Waller suffered a strain to his pectoral muscle in a game against Cleveland two weeks ago. Initial reports indicated that he tore his pectoral muscle, but that did not end up being the case. Regardless, he was placed on the injured reserve shortly after.
Dolphins place TE Darren Waller on IR. pic.twitter.com/9RxvxnASou
— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2025
Waller has missed the Dolphins’ last two games because of this injury. Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters at the time that the team expected him to be out for at least a few weeks.
“It was soft tissue,” McDaniel said. “It’s a situation that probably it would be living in hope to see him in the upcoming next weeks’ games, but he’ll be diligent. This means a lot to him, but that’s kind of where I’m at with it right now with the information I have.”
When Is Darren Waller Coming Back?
Darren Waller’s injury is not expected to be season-ending. However, there has not been an official return target date announced by the team. With the Dolphins effectively out of playoff contention, the team is unlikely to risk rushing him back.
Darren Waller Replacements
Darren Waller is not someone who should have been your fantasy starting lineup. So, if you were using him as a streamer during bye weeks or because of injuries, there should still be plenty of other options available.
New Orleans’ Juwan Johnson is a solid option and is only rostered in 33% of leagues. Cleveland’s Harold Fannin Jr. is only rostered in 62% of leagues. An option in deeper leagues is Chicago’s Colston Loveland, who is only rostered in 21% of leagues.
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