Dolphins activate Darren Waller, Austin Jackson off IR before Saints game

The Miami Dolphins will have both tight end Darren Waller and right tackle Austin Jackson back from injured reserve.

Waller and Jackson were each activated Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

Waller gets the activation with three practices under his belt after first being designated for return to practice this week from his pectoral injury. He missed the minimum four games on IR and then had the bye for an extra week of recuperation. He looked like himself in Friday’s practice, catching routes on air in the red zone during a brief media viewing portion of drills.

Waller, the 6-foot-6 pass-catching tight end, has four touchdowns in four games this season for Miami, so quarterback Tua Tagovailoa gets a key red-zone target back in the lineup.

Jackson, who had been out with a toe injury since the Sept. 7 opener against the Colts, made his return to practice before the bye week, while the Dolphins held three practices in Madrid ahead of their Nov. 16 win over the Washington Commanders.

He would return to his starting post at right tackle, where Larry Borom had filled in formidably.

To make room on the active roster for the two players, tight end Hayden Rucci and offensive lineman Kion Smith were waived. It’s possible the two players are brought back on the practice squad early next week if they clear waivers and aren’t picked up for another team’s active roster.