Darren Waller Eyeing Return This Season

New York Giants tight end Darren Waller is slowly progressing from his latest hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve.

But while he's still not quite ready to take on a full workload, Waller believes he can give the team some snaps in these last four games if he continues progressing.

“Just a matter of them opening up the window, and I’ll be at practice," Waller said. “Whenever that is, I’ll be out there. I’m just waiting for the word."

Although the Giants have opened the 21-day window on Waller's return, the team likely wants to see him go through a week's worth of practice to see where he's at physically.

Regardless, the veteran tight end reported that he'd made significant progress in doing everything he needs to do.

TE Darren Waller has been designated for return and will return to practice today pic.twitter.com/hswnnLZznH
— New York Giants (@Giants) December 14, 2023

"What I want to do, and what I’ve been used to doing is like 70-80 snaps a game," he said. "So, coming out the first week, probably not that, but as far as a number that’s solid that can contribute in whatever ways he needs me to contribute but also be fresh, assuming that’s realistic, but yeah, I plan on contributing given the opportunity."

Waller, who hasn't played since the Giants Week 8 overtime loss to the Jets, doesn't want to hear any talk about sitting out the rest of the season with an eye toward next year. For him, if he can go, he wants to go.

"I don’t try to approach it with that mindset because it’s like a little bit of entitlement," he said. "You don’t know when could be your last game, you know what I’m saying? How many opportunities you’re going to get? I’ve been in a position where I didn’t think I would get any more opportunities, so I plan on attacking every game if I’m available."

Tommy DeVito Not Fazed by Growing Attention

If Waller does return this year, he'll be on the end of passes thrown by Tommy DeVito, a quarterback with whom he did some limited work in the preseason.

"I've been watching him since April," Waller said. "You just kind of watched everybody and saw some flashes when he first got here," Waller said.

And what does he think about DeVito's body of work so far?

"I think he’s doing a great job. It starts with a calm demeanor and just confidence in yourself, and that exudes out, and guys in the huddle are going to feed off of that," he said.

"They’re following your lead. He’s very conscious of that and plays free, man. Like he said, this is football. I’ve been doing this my whole life, and he’s got an opportunity to slow things down a little bit, and you keep doing that as long as you can get reps, and once the game slows down in here (your head), it’s easier to just let your body take over."

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