Live updates: What's happening at Miami Dolphins practice. Waller comes off PUP
▪ The Dolphins activated Darren Waller off the physically unable to perform list on Wednesday morning, which gives him 2 1/2 weeks to practice before the Sept. 7 season opener at Indianapolis.
The Dolphins placed Waller on PUP at the start of camp — which prohibits a player from practicing — so he could get himself into NFL game shape, and reduce the risk of injury, after spending last season in retirement.
His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said on WSVN 7 that Waller will be ready to contribute in the season opener.
Offensive coordinator Frank Smith, who coached Waller with the Raiders, believes he can help quickly.
'My experience with him, the mental side is an extreme strength of his,' Smith said Tuesday. 'Knowing where he needs to be, terminology, that for him is always just something that comes very natural to him because he's used to having to line up everywhere, especially at the Raiders.'
'For him, really, coming back is just making sure that we're getting him physically ready considering he had the year off,' Smith said. 'So when it comes to him, just my experience with him, I'm not really worried about the mental aspect for the game because he is and probably will (forever) be one of the smartest players I ever coached.'
Waller, 32, has made one Pro Bowl appearance, as a member of the Raiders in 2020, when he caught 107 passes for 1,196 yards. He caught 52 passes for 552 yards for the Giants in 2023 before retiring the following June.
He came out of retirement only July 1, and the Giants traded him and a seventh-round pick to Miami for a sixth-round pick.
Rosenhaus said Waller called and told him he wanted to come out of retirement five days before the trade was consummated. General manager Chris Grier was quickly made aware of Waller's interest in playing for Miami, where he has a home.
Even though he hasn't been able to practice, the Dolphins have listed him as the starting tight end on the depth chart. Julian Hill, Pharoah Brown, Hayden Rucci and Chris Myarick are the other tight ends on the roster.
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