Dolphins place star TE Darren Waller (pectoral) on injured reserve
The Miami Dolphins will have to navigate at least the next four games without Darren Waller.
Miami placed the Pro Bowl tight end on injured reserve (IR) after he strained his pectoral muscle against the Cleveland Browns. The earliest that Waller could return would be against the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 30.
Waller had grown to be an integral cog to the Dolphins’ offense during his four-game stint in the aqua and orange.
Although Waller missed the first three games of a season with a hip injury, he arrived with a bang during the Dolphins’ 27-21 victory over the New York Jets, catching three balls for 27 yards and two touchdowns. He would record five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown in his subsequent game against the Carolina Panthers. Waller would then catch two balls — including the go-ahead touchdown — for 12 yards vs. the Los Angeles Chargers.
The 33-year-old injured his pectoral late in the first half of the Dolphins’ eventual 31-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns and never returned. He did not have a target prior to his exit.
On the season, Waller has 10 catches for 117 yards and four touchdowns.
With Waller on IR, the Dolphins signed tight end Greg Dulcich to the active roster and added Chris Myarick to the practice squad. Picked in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Dulcich has yet to live up to expectations following a solid showing as a rookie. The then-22-year-old caught 33 balls for 411 yards and two touchdowns with the Denver Broncos.
In the years since that 2022 season, Dulcich has eight catches for 53 yards, having split time with both the Broncos and New York Giants.
With Dulcich, the Dolphins’ tight end room on the 53-man roster also includes Julian Hill and Tanner Conner. Myarick will join Hayden Rucci as the tight ends on the practice squad.
While the limit of eight designated to returns might be a moot point, Waller would be considered the sixth in that regard. The other five would be kicker Jason Sanders, cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. as well as offensive linemen Andrew Meyer, James Daniels and Austin Jackson, all of whom are not ready to return.
This story was originally published October 22, 2025 at 12:39 PM.
