Veteran tight end Darren Waller is looking dangerously comfortable in the Miami Dolphins offense.
Veteran tight end Darren Waller is looking dangerously comfortable in the Miami Dolphins offense.
Waller caught five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in the first half against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 5 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The 33-year-old tight end caught passes of 34 and 21 yards in the first half and cashed in for the offense with a 4-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Waller was the leading receiver for the Dolphins in the offense's first full half without wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who suffered a season-ending injury last week against the New York Jets.
The Dolphins lead the Panthers 17-10 at halftime.
Darren Waller story includes retirement, comeback
Waller retired from the NFL on June 6, 2024 and did not play in the 2024 NFL season.
“I was traveling and sitting at home on the rocking chair,” Waller said recently of that retirement year. “But something shifted and I feel God placed an organic opportunity in front of me.”
Waller returned to football and signed with the Dolphins on July 1, 2025. He missed the first three games of the season while nursing an injury, a tear of the quadriceps from his hip.
Waller scored on a 4-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa to get the Dolphins going on “Monday Night Football” against the New York Jets on Sept. 29. He then put them comfortably ahead on a 9-yard TD catch in the second half.
“I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be,” he said. “ … I guess nights like the other night made me feel like it was the right choice.”
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
Hal Habib contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Darren Waller goes off for Dolphins in first half vs. Carolina Panthers
Category: Football
