MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller, who left Sunday’s game with a pectoral injury, has a soft tissue injury, according to coach Mike McDaniel, and is unlikely to play this week at Atlanta. Waller left the 31-6 loss at Cleveland in the second quarter with a pectoral injury. He didn’t return.

“It’s a situation that probably it would be living in hope to see him in the upcoming next week’s games,” McDaniel said. “But he’ll be diligent and this means a lot to him. But that’s kind of where I’m at with it right now, with the information I have.”

Waller, who retired in June 2024 and came out of retirement in July 2025, has 10 receptions (tied for fifth on the team) for 117 yards (fourth on the team) and a team-best four touchdowns.

Waller’s injury further cripples an offense that’s been beset with injuries to top players among wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee), right guard James Daniels (pectoral) and right tackle Austin Jackson (ankle).

Waller has been a blessing for the offense since his two-touchdown debut against the New York Jets. But he’s also been shut down for extended stretches considering he had no targets in the second half against Carolina after posting five receptions for 78 yards in the first half, and one target in the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers. Waller wasn’t targeted against Cleveland.

Backup QB battle resumes this week

McDaniel said there will be a battle for backup quarterback this week between rookie Quinn Ewers, who served as the backup to starter Tua Tagovailoa  against Cleveland, and veteran Zach Wilson, the former No. 2 pick of trhe draft who the Dolphins paid $6 million to be Tagovailoa’s backup.

“I’m hoping it’s not a week-to-week thing,” McDaniel said of the backup job. “It will be competitive this week and at the end of the week I’ll let you guys know who the backup is in the hopes that somebody grabs and takes (it permanently). But I think you have to be willing to do whatever is the best thing for your team.”

McDaniel: Focus is on game, not job security

McDaniel, who has a 29-29 regular season record and a 29-31 overall record, including his two playoff losses, said he refuses to acknowledge specualtion about his future.

“There’s a piece of me that, from an integrity standpoint, I just refuse to go into that world of speculation when I’m currently holding the job,” he said. “I think that’s kind of irresponsible. I do recognize, and the hard part is the residual consequences, I think, of other staff members, players, just the uncertainty of that. But at this point, I don’t think anybody really is focused on any of that now. You’ve got to focus on winning a game.”

Substituion and aligment errors surface again

McDaniel admitted some of the penalties and issues they’ve suffered are preventable and stem from a lack of preparedness even though some have been caused by injury substitutions.

“I think that’s a huge part of the game that people have to be prepared for,” he said, “and I don’t think we were adequately prepared for that, which led to some late in the play clock (concerns) and timeout situations that I try to avoid at all costs.”

Tua on his season

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has thrown 11 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and lost a fumble, meaning he has 11 touchdowns and 11 turnovers to go along with his woeful 82.8 passer rating, which ranks 27th in the league.

“Definelty not happy, not proud of where I’m at with my play, with how I’ve gone about things this year,” Tagovailoa said Sunday of his season. “I know I have to be a lot better and I’ve been better for the Miami Dolphins years past, but this isn’t years past, this is this year, right?

“Just trying to maneuver everything and trying to build a collection of guys to kind of bring along with me and I have to be able to multi-task if that makes sense. To be able to do that, while continuing to get whatever it was last year and the years prior for myself to get going again. And get in that flow.” 

Is Waddle showing he’s a No. 1 WR?

Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who has spent the last few years as the No. 2 wide receiver behind Tyreek Hill, who is currently sidelined with a season-ending knee injury, is sometimes said to have the qualities of a No. 1 wide receiver. Waddle is having a hard time showing those skills.

For the season, Waddle had 30 receptions for 405 yards and three touchdowns. The 30 receptions are tied for 29th in the league, the 405 yards are 23rd, and the three receiving touchdowns are tied for 24th. By the way, Waddle’s 44 targets are tied for 33rd.

Dolphins by the numbers…and it’s not good

The Dolphins are minus-6 in turnover margin, which ranks 30th in the 32-team NFL. Coach Mike McDaniel regards turnover margin as the best indicator of wins and losses, so it’s probably disheartening to him that his team ranks so low.

The Dolphins are allowing 29.3 points per game, which ranks 29th. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver considers points allowed as his most valued statistic.

The relatively good news is the Dolphins’ penalties, where they rank middle of the pack. Even after Sunday’s disastrous 11 penalties for 103 yards, both single-game highs in the McDaniel era, their season totals of 49 penalties for 389 yards are respectable. The Dolphins are tied for 13th in penalties and 12th in penalty yards.

Dolphins seasons that started 1-6

This is the fifth time in franchise history the Dolphins have started the season with a 1-6. As you might guess, it usually ends poorly. The best result was 2021, when the Dolphins finished 9-8. 

Otherwise, they finished 4-10 in 1967, 4-12 in 2004, and 6-10 in 2006.

The only team in NFL history to start 1-6 and make the playoffs was the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals who finished 8-6 to win the AFC Central. The Bengals lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Colts, 17-0, in their first-round playoff game.

Originally Published: October 20, 2025 at 3:18 PM EDT