Darren Waller of the Giants is Scheduled to Return from Inactive Status Due to Hamstring Rehab
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72963596/1750806328.0.jpg)
The New York Giants may soon see tight end Darren Waller back on the field as they are riding a three-game winning streak that has given them some life in the NFC playoff race.
Waller’s 21-day practice window was opened by the Giants on Thursday, as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury that put him on injured reserve in November.
Waller is “making progress,” head coach Brian Daboll told reporters on Wednesday. However, he did not indicate that the former Pro Bowler would be able to play this week against the New Orleans Saints.
“We’ll see,” stated Daboll. “Go through the week and determine it at the end of the week.”
When asked if Waller might play on Sunday, he was more upbeat than his coach.
He told reporters, “It’s just a matter of them opening the window and I’ll be bat practice.” “So whenever that is, I’ll be out there.”
In his first game back, Waller did concede that he “probably” won’t be able to play the regular number of snaps he’s used to, but he still hopes to find a “number that’s solid that can contribute in whatever ways he needs me to contribute” for the team.
Following a hamstring injury that worsened during a Week 8 loss to the New York Jets, Waller was placed on injured reserve by the Giants on November 4. Despite being able to play in each of the first eight games, he sustained the injury in Week 1 when he was added to the injury report later than expected.
Waller continues to lead the Giants in receiving yards (384) and receptions (36) despite missing the last five games.
The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers both own the longest active winning streaks in the NFC, with five, followed by New York with the third-longest. The team is now one game behind the Green Bay Packers for the final playoff spot, despite their unexpected surge.
This is still a dramatic turnaround for a team that appeared to be the worst in the NFL following a 49-17 loss to the Cowboys on November 12. It’s still a steep hill for the Giants to climb, though, as four other teams in addition to the Packers had a 6-7 record entering Week 15.
