Who Should I Start? Darren Waller or Tyler Higbee

Friday, January 2, 12:55 PM

Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (groin) will be placed on Injured Reserve on Friday, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. Waller will miss the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival New England Patriots. The 33-year-old veteran came out of retirement to play for the Dolphins in 2025 and will finish with 24 catches for 283 yards and six touchdowns in only nine games played. Waller got a late start to the season as he worked his way into playing shape and also missed time with a hamstring injury. He was not the same player he was earlier in his career with the Raiders, but Waller still had plenty of red-zone prowess in his return this year. It remains to be seen if he'll attempt to return in 2026 with Miami or another organization. Greg Dulcich should be the Dolphins' top pass-catching TE in Week 18.

Thursday, January 8, 5:19 PM

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (ankle) was a full participant in practice on Friday and has been removed from the final injury report. Higbee will be active for Wild-Card weekend on Saturday against the Carolina Panthers after he was limited in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday. The 33-year-old missed six games due to an ankle issue that landed him on Injured Reserve, but he was able to return in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals. Higbee played 64% of the offensive snaps in his return while catching five of his six targets for 91 yards and a touchdown. It was a nice first game back, and he could see more time on the field this weekend if rookie Terrance Ferguson (hamstring) cannot play. The impending return of receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) is bad news for Higbee, though. Consider him a touchdown-dependent TE1 on Wild-Card weekend against Carolina.