The Miami Dolphins activated veteran tight end Darren Waller from the physically unable to perform list on Wednesday.
Waller, who announced his retirement 14 months ago, joined Miami in a July 1 trade with the New York Giants and has been working to get back into football shape.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel recently said he expected Waller, who turns 33 next month, to begin practicing “sooner rather than later.”
Waller’s one-year deal in Miami is worth up to $5 million, according to agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey.
He played one season with the Giants, catching 52 passes for 552 yards and one touchdown in 12 games in 2023 before stepping away from the game in July 2024. Reasons cited for his retirement included a medical scare, a loss of “passion” for football and a burgeoning music career.
The Giants traded Waller and a conditional 2027 seventh-round draft pick to Miami for a conditional sixth-round pick in 2026.
Waller has 350 career receptions for 4,124 yards and 20 TDs in 86 games (63 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens (2015-16), Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2018-22) and Giants. He made the Pro Bowl in 2020 with 107 catches for 1,196 yards and nine scores.
Waller is in line to start for the Dolphins, who traded tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this summer. Other tight ends on the current roster include Julian Hill, Pharaoh Brown, Tanner Conner, Chris Myarick and Hayden Rucci.
Miami finishes the preseason schedule at home against Jacksonville on Saturday. The Dolphins open the regular season at Indianapolis on Sept. 7.
–Field Level Media
