Darren Waller seemingly out for Dolphins' season opener with hip pressure

[ad_1] MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins tight finish Darren Waller is coping with a hip pressure and is unlikely to play in Miami's season opener Sunday in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts.

Waller was initially injured earlier than follow on Wednesday — a session he missed as a result of it was beforehand determined that he would keep away from three-consecutive follow days — and Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stated Waller exacerbated the damage earlier than Thursday's follow.

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“Whereas attempting to forestall a setback, he had a setback earlier than follow," McDaniel stated Friday. "What does that imply? It means he is being challenged, probably the most keen participant to play has one other problem. I do know he is up for it, however I do not assume he will play this week, which wasn't deliberate. However the best way I have a look at it's, together with your first participant that comes out of retirement strive to not have a plan that you haven't any expertise with.”

Waller has not performed in a soccer recreation in additional than a yr after retiring in June 2024 as a member of the New York Giants. The 32-year-old got here out of retirement in July to play in Miami however he has not practiced a lot with the Dolphins — one thing McDaniel stated this week was to “do proper by the Dolphins and do proper by him” as Waller works his means again into soccer form.

He just lately started working towards on a restricted foundation earlier than the damage setback and stated he understood why the group sat him for many of coaching camp.

“You'll be able to’t all the time predict how your physique will reply from having time away,” Waller stated after follow final week. “Largely it’s simply my physique responding effectively, and in some methods it didn’t, so it was identical to being cautious in that method to I assume have a look at the larger image versus perhaps speeding in to prepare for the very starting. Simply taking that into consideration, I admire the care they’ve given me right here, all of the help employees.

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However the setback raises considerations about how shortly Waller will be capable to develop essential on-field chemistry with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who acknowledged in the course of the preseason that he did not have many reps along with his new beginning tight finish.

Tagovailoa famous Wednesday that he had just lately been capable of get a while in with Waller.

“We’ve been capable of work slightly bit," Tagovailoa stated. “I feel the cool factor about (Waller) is he’s been staying locked in mentally. After we have been on the highway, he’d come and ask me questions. Like, ‘Hey, I’ve seen you're employed this route with this man. Why did you throw it this manner or why did you throw it that means?’ ... I feel he’s been actually locked in all through the previous couple weeks.”

The Dolphins acquired loads of manufacturing from the place final season, when Jonnu Smith set single-season franchise information for a good finish with 88 receptions, 884 yards and eight touchdowns. Smith was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in July, a day earlier than Miami acquired Waller.