BUFFALO — The debut with the Miami Dolphins for tight end Darren Waller could be right around the corner.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is expecting Waller to play the Dolphins’ next game, against the New York Jets on Monday, Sept. 29, after the tight end who came out of retirement for this season missed Miami’s first three games with a hip strain.
“I have in my mind the expectation that he’s going to play against the Jets,” McDaniel said in a Friday web conference with reporters coming off Thursday night’s 31-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills. “His body has to follow through, and we’ll take that day by day. But I know he’s excited for this week and getting a full week underneath his belt of practice before the next game.”
McDaniel said Waller was “super close” to being available for game action this week, and he may have played if it were a regular Sunday game instead of a Thursday nighter.
Waller went through most of training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list, but he was activated as he made progress toward preparation to play after coming out of retirement.
Then, before Miami’s opener against the Indianapolis Colts, Waller suffered a setback, but it wasn’t enough for the team to place him on injured reserve, which would’ve sidelined him for the season’s first four weeks.
The Dolphins have deployed just two tight ends — Julian Hill and Tanner Conner — in each of their first three games this season.
The Dolphins, who played the division-leading Bills tight but fell short in the end, came away from facing Buffalo on the short week relatively healthy.
The one key injury suffered during the game was to rookie cornerback Jason Marshall Jr.’s hamstring. McDaniel said the Marshall will be evaluated by the week.
“My premature — don’t hold me to this; it’s a little early for the second opinions — but it looks like it’s maybe a week to week thing, not super extensive,” McDaniel said Friday.
“I couldn’t tell you where he’ll be at for this next game. We’ll be working diligently to see if that’s a possibility or not.”
Marshall went down along the sideline on a play in the first half Thursday night. As he received medical attention on the field, he was seen punching the ground in frustration over the ailment.
He got up and walked gingerly, first to the team’s sideline medical tent and then into the locker room.
After originally being deemed questionable to return, Marshall was ruled out at halftime.
Miami had its three players who entered Thursday questionable — wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (shoulder), edge rusher Chop Robinson (knee) and defensive tackle Benito Jones (oblique) — all play against the Bills.
Waller was one of three ruled out Wednesday, along with cornerback Storm Duck (ankle) and safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (calf).
The secondary continues to be depleted for Miami with Marshall now added onto the growing list of injuries on the back end.
With Melifonwu out, Ashtyn Davis played every defensive snap Thursday as a safety alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick. Rookie safety Dante Trader also started and saw extensive work in nickel packages. Once Marshall went down, Cornell Armstrong saw defensive snaps.
Starting boundary cornerback Jack Jones hurt his shoulder on one play. He sat out the next, making way for Ethan Bonner to play his lone defensive snap at Buffalo, before Jones returned.
This story will be updated.
