Who Should I Start? Darren Waller or Colston Loveland

Tuesday, August 12, 1:19 PM

Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller will not join the team for training camp practices this week, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. Waller began camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list due to conditioning issues after coming out of retirement, and McDaniel isn't ready to throw him iinto the fire during joint practices this week with the Detroit Lions. The 32-year-old veteran will continue to work on his conditioning after not playing at all in 2024, but he's unlikely to come off the PUP list and play in the second preseason game this Saturday against the Lions. Waller had back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2019 and 2020 with the Raiders, but it's fair to wonder if he has that kind of production in him at this point in his career. He's worth a late-round flier as a TE2 given the weak nature of the position, but don't expect him to put up the numbers that Jonnu Smith did in Miami in 2024.

Sunday, August 10, 5:03 PM

Chicago Bears first-round tight end Colston Loveland played in the first two series in the Bears' opening preseason game, catching one of two targets for eight yards in the 24-24 tie versus the Miami Dolphins. The 10th overall pick got his first NFL action in Sunday's game with Tyson Bagent and the rest of the Bears' backups. Veteran tight end Cole Kmet is listed as the starting tight end on the Bears' unofficial depth chart and didn't see the field, which is a bit of a worrying sign for the rookie. New Bears head coach Ben Johnson has previously coordinated an offense that produced elite tight end production from Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta. Loveland will need to surpass Kmet on the depth chart and rely on Johnson's scheme and quarterback Caleb Williams' potential to match what LaPorta achieved as a rookie.