It had been more than a year since Darren Waller last stepped onto an NFL field for a regular-season game. It had been 708 days since his last touchdown catch. On Monday night in Miami, the veteran tight end didn’t just return — he reminded everyone why the Dolphins coaxed him out of retirement.
Waller caught two touchdown passes from Tua Tagovailoa, both in high-pressure red zone situations, to account for the bulk of Miami’s scoring. His second grab — a tough, contested catch in the corner of the end zone — highlighted his night and gave the Dolphins the breathing room they needed to secure a 27-21 victory over the New York Jets.
“Those moments are why we believed in him,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said. “To come out of retirement, commit himself, and deliver like that — it speaks volumes.”
The Jets couldn’t escape their own mistakes. They turned the ball over three times and racked up 13 penalties for 101 yards, self-inflicted wounds that erased a statistical advantage. New York outgained Miami by 104 yards but had little to show for it.
The trouble started early. Rookie running back Braelon Allen appeared destined to score a go-ahead touchdown in the first quarter, only to have the ball stripped at the goal line. Miami responded with a 96-yard, 15-play march for a touchdown, flipping a potential 7-3 Jets lead into a 10-0 Dolphins advantage.
The miscues didn’t stop there. The Jets fumbled again on their next possession and coughed up the opening kickoff of the second half while trailing 10-3, handing Miami another short field. The Dolphins cashed in both opportunities, stretching the lead to 20-3 and forcing New York into desperation mode.
“It’s hard to beat anybody when you beat yourself,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn admitted.
The Dolphins entered Week 4 searching for offensive consistency. After a sluggish start to the season, McDaniel leaned into his trademark creativity, dialing up motion-heavy concepts and spreading touches across the offense.
Tagovailoa was steady, finishing with 229 yards and two scores, both to Waller. De’Von Achane added 74 yards and a touchdown on the ground, ripping off a highlight run that showcased his burst. Miami totaled 300 yards and played turnover-free football — exactly the formula they needed.
“Everything was on schedule tonight,” Tagovailoa said. “We trusted the plan, trusted our playmakers, and finished drives.”
The Dolphins’ win came with a devastating setback. Star receiver Tyreek Hill went down with a dislocated knee in the second half after landing awkwardly near the sideline. He was carted off and later taken to a hospital. Early reports suggest his season is likely over, a crushing blow to Miami’s offensive hopes.
On the other sideline, Allen exited after suffering his own knee injury when he was dragged down awkwardly in the third quarter. The promising rookie had been running well before his costly fumble and injury, leaving the Jets uncertain about their offensive backfield moving forward.
The Dolphins (1-3) snapped their three-game losing skid and regained some confidence heading into a tough stretch without Hill. For McDaniel’s squad, Waller’s emergence could soften the blow and give Miami a much-needed security blanket in the passing game.
The Jets (0-4) remain winless, undone by turnovers, penalties, and inconsistency. They’ll head back to New York searching for answers — and waiting anxiously on Allen’s medical results.
For Miami, though, Monday night belonged to Darren Waller, whose red zone magic brought a long-awaited breakthrough and just might have changed the course of their season.
