New York Giants fans are frustrated with the disappointing performance of expensive tight end Darren Waller, and it seems he rubbed a lot of his former teammates the wrong way for a specific reason as well.
When the Giants made an offseason trade for one-time Pro Bowler Darren Waller, there was a lot of hope he could finally become the go-to receiver the offense desperately needed. However, the former Las Vegas Raiders talent has not delivered in the way the organization or its fanbase hoped for.
After eight games in the 2023 season, the 31-year-old has just 36 catches, under 400 yards receiving, and a single touchdown. It doesn’t help that the offense is also the lowest scoring in the league heading into Week 9 and is near the bottom of our recent NFL offense rankings.
For much of his career, Waller has developed a reputation as often injured after missing 43 games during his stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders. While he has suited up for all eight games this season for the Giants, one has to wonder if an ongoing hamstring issue that has landed him on the team’s injury report recently may be having an effect on his play.
New York Giants tight end Darren Waller ‘bothered’ Raiders teammates with durability
The effect injuries have had on his play and his lack of toughness to grind through them and suit up on gameday was reportedly a problem some of his Raiders teammates had with him, according to Sports Illustrated Raiders reporter Hondo S. Carpenter.
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“Darren is a good guy, but there was frustration with his teammates feeling that he could have returned (a few times) from injury before he did [last season],” Carpenter wrote on Monday. “That is one thing that doesn’t weather well in a locker room. When teammates feel that a player can play, and he doesn’t, whether they are right or wrong, it doesn’t settle well. Darren’s teammates liked him, but that issue bothered multiple teammates immensely.”
There has been no word of any issues with his Giants teammates but, that previous injury reputation may be forcing him to stay in the lineup and play instead of taking the time off he may need.