Darren Waller addresses the one thing that should ease Panthers fans’ concerns about his expectations in Carolina
Carolina Panthers new tight end Darren Waller arrived to practice on Monday with a new mindset following his 2025 season that should ease all concerns fans might have about his expectations in 2026.
The Carolina Panthers unveiled their latest addition on Monday when veteran tight end Darren Waller officially joined the team and worked off to the side during practice.
Head coach Dave Canales told reporters after practice that Waller is in “return-to-play” mode and will take some time this week to ramp back up before fully integrating into practice with the rest of the offense.
“He looks like he’s in phenomenal shape,” Canales said. “He was leaking (sweat) out here. This is a different kind of 117 (heat) index than Vegas is, where he lives. He mentioned that. He’s soaking wet. But it was a good opportunity to see where he’s at.”
Darren Waller claimed it’s a night-and-day difference in his mentality going into this season
In June of 2024, Waller retired from the NFL after one season with the New York Giants and seemed content hanging up the cleats and walking away from a successful career. One year later, the Miami Dolphins called with an opportunity to bring Waller out of retirement to see what he still had left in the tank.
“I really felt like there was something greater that was pushing me back into the game,” Waller told reporters. “I feel like there was a lot left and I feel like the time I was on the field last year, I feel like it was really clear to me that I still had a lot left. Taking that into account, I felt like it was super important for me to respect the process from February up until this point as far as my body and being way more calloused than I was last year.”
Waller went on to play nine games for the Dolphins last year, recording 283 yards and six touchdowns. That includes his 78-yard, one touchdown, game against the Panthers that put him on Canales’ radar when considering external tight end options.
It took longer than Waller expected to sign with a team until the Panthers finally called with an offer, but it’s an opportunity he’s looking forward to.
“Sometimes it can be like, I’m doing all this work since the day after the Super Bowl, when is it gonna happen? But uncertainty’s kind of the name of the game,” Waller added. “I’m new to this free-agent situation. But it is what it was. I’m grateful that it happened in the timing that it did.”
Darren Waller believes he can still play at a high level for the Panthers’ offense in 2026
Last year proved Waller can still play at a high level, even in his 30’s, and the way he went about his preparation this offseason should ease all concerns about the kind of player the Panthers are bringing in on offense.
Waller joked that right now the offensive playbook looks like “Mandarin Chinese” and understands he’s going to have to earn his role in the tight end room and his spot on the 53-man roster. Canales said that Waller is unlikely to participate in Wednesday’s joint practice against the Jacksonville Jaguars but suiting up by Friday could be an option. If not, Waller should be ready to roll by next week.
As for what he can bring on the field, Canales highlighted Waller’s route-running ability and large catch radius as positive traits to add on offense and Waller believes what he did last season can help him return to his younger days.
“I feel like the training that I put in this offseason has allowed me to be — from an explosive speed, movement standpoint, where I was when people remember me at the peak of my career,” Waller explained. “And I think my scoring potential was unlocked last year in ways that hadn’t been before. So combine those two, you still get a pretty decent product out of me.”
For fans that were initially concerned about this signing based on Waller’s potential mindset and the shape he’s in, I firmly believe all those concerns should be put to rest. Waller is locked in and ready to contribute in any way that he can for this team in 2026.
