Dolphins 27, Jets 21
Q. Darren, can you just take us through the emotions of, one, being back out there, and then, two, two-touchdown night is a pretty good game.
DARREN WALLER: Yeah, it's a lot to process. A lot emotionally, to be honest. Yeah, very exciting, just, yeah, to be out there just the whole day. Yeah, a little bit of fear, a little bit of everything, you know, because haven't really been practicing a ton. Haven't really done a whole lot with the team.
So it's like, all right, I got to find a way to, I don't know, just get back out there and just get into a rhythm and be somebody that this team can rely on and give the team a return on their investment I guess.
So just trying to take all that into account and just trying to be as present as possible and know -- like I feel like I know what to do and I prepare hard, and just try to put myself in the right positions to win. If a play is to be made, I make it. If it's not my turn, I'm encouraging my teammates. Yeah, it was just fun, man. Felt like when I start playing football as a kid. Felt like I lost it sometimes, so -- but, yeah, tonight was pretty cool.
Q. Can you take us through the first touchdown? Looked like you used every bit of your 6'6" size to make to happen?
DARREN WALLER: Yeah, that touchdown was oddly enough the same route that was like the first touchdown of my NFL career. Like across the back line, separating from the defender. But that one was like, yeah, really high. But, yeah, no, shoutout to Tua for trusting that and putting it up there and giving a guy a chance.
We haven't had that much time to build chemistry, but for him to give me an opportunity like that, I'm really grateful, you know what I'm saying?
Yeah, just fourth down, got-to-have-it situation, and just being where you got to be and go get the football.
Q. After so much time away, how much did it help to have the early third down play, I think your first going in there, just to help shake off any cobwebs?
DARREN WALLER: Yeah, does a lot. Just to be able to get in there and to react and make a play, get hit, get the little excitement and then just settle right back into the flow of the game and just being present from down to down.
So, yeah, no, I feel like play like that does a lot for somebody. It's like people getting the preseason game and that hit, making a play like that, it does a lot to get you back in the flow.
Q. At what point in that process did you feel your body would be ready?
DARREN WALLER: I knew like right -- kind of before the Buffalo game because I think it was a short week. I was feeling like if that game was on a Sunday I might've been able to play in it. There was no real live practice reps. I feel like I needed a practice week to get prepared.
I think it was that week, so I was able to have I think 11 days going into this game to really just put more work in and kind of like squeeze training camp into a block for me I guess, which is still ongoing. So much I can clean up in what I'm doing.
But, yeah, feel like it was around that time with the Buffalo week.
Q. This week heading into the game, what were those conversations like with Tua in practice? How much or little do you think he depended on you tonight?
DARREN WALLER: Yeah, no, I think it was just like -- because I'm in all the meetings, you know, kind of been asking questions and having a dialog since training camp, even though I'm not on the field. Just seeing how he is seeing things and him just giving me a chance honestly. It's really unfolding. Really like the beginning chapters of us putting in reps together on the grass.
So, yeah, I feel like it's just a guy like him just having faith and giving a guy like me a chance, and I'm grateful.
Q. Darren, first thing Tyreek did when everybody is going to check on him is making jokes about his situation and smiling. We all saw him smiling on the field. How much did that reaction you think help the rest of the team I guess not dwell on it too much and respond the way you guys responded?
DARREN WALLER: Yeah, no, I feel like for him to be able to have that level of just, I don't know, peace about it. In the NFL there is so many things that can happen. You're not really in control of much. It's a high impact, fast, violent game, you know what I'm saying?
To really see that and be like, okay, wow, this is just like a season where it looks like it's down a little bit. But Reek is going to pop back up when it's time. He's going to heal and be right back. So I feel like seeing that in him helps a lot of guys on this team no matter what their situation is that they may be going through. Us as a team, you hit walls, things may not have been going our way this first quarter that much, but you can always respond.
You can always choose the energy and the attitude you respond to a situation with. Reek means the world to this team. He's an amazing dude. Full of joy, full of fun. That inspires me to want to get back out here and play and I feel like a lot of other guys, too. We just love him.
Q. What would it take for the offense to keep going now presumably without Tyreek?
DARREN WALLER: I feel like just the guys really just stepping up in whatever their role is. I feel like there will be a lot of guys in the receiver room that will have more opportunities to make plays. I have faith in them, especially from what I've seen over camp and the first few weeks.
Yeah, football is a game and a business where you got to move forward. I feel like we got guys that can move forward and allow us to have balance and continue to build on some balance. So, yeah, I'm excited to see guys really step up. Yeah, there is no replacing him, but feel like we got guys that can get the job done.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports