Tag: Waller

Dec 25, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants tight end Darren Waller (12) in the tunnel against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Giants GM: TE Darren Waller still undecided; draft trade talk ‘surprising’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New York Giants tight end Darren Waller continues to contemplate retirement and general manager Joe Schoen has not given the 31-year-old a deadline for his decision.

Schoen said Thursday at a pre-draft press conference the Giants are giving Waller the time and space he requested to deliberate whether to re-invest in the physical and emotional toll required to continue his NFL career.

The Giants could consider a tight end in the draft with Georgia’s Brock Bowers standing out as the top talent at the position.

But Schoen sounded more inclined to weigh trade options because of the number of holes the Giants have on the roster.

With Waller’s future up in the air, wide receiver Darius Slayton also is avoiding voluntary workouts and reportedly seeking a new contract. Schoen said Thursday the Giants understand the business side and said the situation serves as a reminder the team work in April is “voluntary.”

“I understand where he’s coming from. That’s his prerogative,” Schoen said.

The Giants hosted multiple wide receivers on “top 30” visits including likely top-10 picks Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State, Malik Nabers of LSU and Rome Odunze of Washington. All three visited New Jersey on the same day in March.

Recent additions at wide receiver have produced underwhelming results. The Giants traded 2021 first-round receiver Kadarius Toney — a selection made by the front office preceding Schoen’s arrival — and parted with big-ticket free agent Kenny Golladay in 2022.

Roster needs are plentiful entering 2024. They could include quarterback and running back. Daniel Jones is coming off of neck surgery and Saquon Barkley bolted for the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent.

If it comes down to trading out of the No. 6 spot to stockpile picks, Schoen said the number of calls from teams inquiring about that pick has been a surprise.

New York also is making calls of its own.

Schoen said the Giants’ “expectation” is for Jones to return as the team’s starter, even as reports of the team’s interest in prospects at the position gain steam.

“I’ve still got a lot of confidence in Daniel,” Schoen said. “He’s here all the time. We’ve got a good relationship.”

Reports indicate the Giants also are looking into moving up. Schoen didn’t confirm on Thursday but did admit he’s aware the teams with the top three picks — Chicago, Washington and New England — aren’t “inclined to move right now.”

“I don’t think anybody’s ready to move right now, I know people are listening,” Schoen said.

Waller, who will turn 32 in September, caught 52 passes for 552 yards and one touchdown in 12 games (11 starts) last season with New York.

The Giants signed tight ends Jack Stoll and Chris Manhertz in free agency.

Waller is due a base salary of $10.5 million in 2024. He signed a three-year, $51 million contract extension with the Las Vegas Raiders in September 2022. New York acquired him from Las Vegas in March 2023 for a third-round pick in the 2023 draft.

–Field Level Media

Aug 1, 2023; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants tight end Darren Waller (12) stretches during training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Giants’ Andrew Thomas, Darren Waller trending in right direction

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas and tight end Darren Waller appear to be trending in the direction to play Sunday at Arizona.

Both starters have been dealing with hamstring injuries but returned to practice Thursday and were on the field again Friday.

Thomas told head coach Brian Daboll he feels a “little bit better,” and Daboll said Waller “moved around good,” according to ESPN.

Thomas played 53 of the Giants’ 70 offensive snaps in the 40-0 loss to Dallas in Week 1. Waller was on the field for 38 snaps and caught three of five targets for 36 yards.

–Field Level Media

Sep 25, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) just misses a catch during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Nelles-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders remain cautious with injured TE Darren Waller

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Raiders tight end Darren Waller remains day-to-day but Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels plans to be cautious putting him back on the field.

Waller, who didn’t play in Sunday’s loss, has missed three consecutive games with a hamstring injury.

“He practiced in a limited capacity last week,” McDaniels said Monday. “We’re going to err on the side of caution.”

Waller has 16 receptions — fifth-best on the team — for 175 yards and one touchdown this season and had only five catches for 24 yards in the month of October.

He was limited to 11 games in 2021 and missed significant time during training camp, but McDaniels said in August he wasn’t concerned.

Las Vegas was shut out, 24-zip, at New Orleans in Week 8, falling to 2-5 and dead last in the AFC West division. They’ll face the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) on the road this week.

–Field Level Media

Sep 25, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard (31) knocks away the game-tying two-point attempt intended for Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders TE Darren Waller (hamstring) inactive vs. Saints

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tight end Darren Waller will sit out his second straight game on Sunday when the Las Vegas Raiders visit the New Orleans Saints.

Waller was listed as questionable to play in Sunday’s game due to his ailing hamstring.

Foster Moreau likely will start in place of the 30-year-old Waller, who has 16 catches for 175 yards and one touchdown in five games this season.

The Raiders (2-4) also listed running back Brittain Brown, linebacker Jayon Brown, offensive tackle Jackson Barton, defensive tackle Matthew Butler and defensive end Tashawn Bower as inactive for the game.

The Saints (2-5) listed wide receivers Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry, cornerback Marshon Lattimore, tight end Adam Trautman, guard/tackle Wyatt Davis and defensive end Carl Granderson as inactive.

–Field Level Media

Oct 2, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) gains yardage against the Denver Broncos during a game at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders WR Davante Adams (illness) returns to practice

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams returned to practice Friday after an illness and was listed as questionable for Sunday’s road game against the New Orleans Saints.

Adams sat out practices on Wednesday and Thursday due to the illness but was listed as a limited participant on Friday.

Adams has caught 37 passes for 509 yards and five touchdowns in six games in his first season with the Raiders. He had 95 yards in last Sunday’s 38-20 win over the Texans to narrowly miss his third straight 100-yard outing.

The former Green Bay Packers star has three 100-yard outings this season.

Adams is one of seven Las Vegas players listed as questionable. The others are tight end Darren Waller (hamstring), safety Johnathan Abram (illness), defensive end Tashawn Bower (illness), linebacker Divine Deablo (back, ankle), and receivers Mack Hollins (heel) and DJ Turner (hamstring).

Quarterback Derek Carr (back) was a full participant for the second straight day and is set to play.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) drops the ball as he is tackled by Dallas Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse (27) during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders TE Darren Waller deemed doubtful vs. Washington

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s home game against the Washington Football Team.

Waller sustained knee and back injuries during Las Vegas’ 36-33 overtime victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. He didn’t practice at all this week.

Waller has caught 53 passes for 643 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games this season. Last year, he was a Pro Bowler when he established career bests of 107 receptions, 1,196 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

Running back Josh Jacobs is listed as questionable after injuring an ankle during practice on Thursday. He was limited the past two days.

Also listed as questionable is recent addition DeSean Jackson. The receiver is dealing with a calf injury and was limited Friday after missing Thursday’s practice altogether.

The Raiders ruled out defensive end Carl Nassib (knee) and linebacker Patrick Onwuasor (hamstring). Also listed as questionable are linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (ankle) and cornerback Keisean Nixon (ankle).

Washington ruled out four players: safety Landon Collins (foot), running back J.D. McKissic (concussion), guard Wes Schweitzer (ankle) and defensive back Benjamin St-Juste (concussion). St-Juste was placed on injured reserve on Thursday.

Wideout Curtis Samuel (groin) is questionable, as are center Tyler Larsen (knee), tight end Ricky Seals-Jones (hip) and offensive tackle Ereck Flowers (foot).

–Field Level Media

Jan 3, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass against the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders’ two-point conversion beats Broncos

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Derek Carr was 24-of-38 passing for 371 yards and two touchdowns, Josh Jacobs ran for 89 yards and two more scores, and the visiting Las Vegas Raiders rallied to beat the Denver Broncos 32-31 on Sunday.

Darren Waller had nine catches for 117 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion and Bryan Edwards also had a TD reception for Las Vegas (8-8). Waller set the franchise record for receptions in a season with 107.

Drew Lock was 25-of-41 passing for 339 yards and two touchdowns, Jerry Jeudy had five catches for 140 yards and a score and Melvin Gordon rushed for 93 yards and a TD for the Broncos (5-11).

Down 31-24, the Raiders had the ball on their 23 with 1:47 left and no timeouts. Carr drove them to the Denver 1, and Jacobs scored on fourth down. Waller caught the two-point conversion to put Las Vegas ahead with 24 seconds left.

The Broncos drove to midfield and the Raiders blocked Brandon McManus’63-yard field goal try to win it.

Las Vegas led by a touchdown at the half but Denver rallied. McManus, who had a 70-yard field goal try blocked at the end of the first half, had a 37-yarder and another from 26 yards out to cut the deficit to 17-16.

Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III fumbled after a hard hit, and five plays later Gordon ran it in from the 10. Lock passed to Jeudy for the 2-point conversion to put the Broncos ahead 24-17.

Jacobs’ 28-yard touchdown run with 7:27 left tied it at 24 but Denver answered with Lock’s 92-yard TD pass to Jeudy, setting up the final rally by the Raiders.

Lock’s one-yard touchdown pass to Troy Fumagalli gave Denver a 10-3 lead, and the Raiders matched it on Carr’s 28-yard TD pass to Waller.

The teams traded punts and Las Vegas started a drive at its own 44 with 1:39 left in the second quarter. Facing a third-and-15 from the 26, Carr connected with Edwards for a touchdown with 26 seconds left in the first half to give the Raiders a 17-10 lead.

–Field Level Media

Sep 27, 2020; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden speaks to Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Maskless Raiders under investigation after charity event

Posted on | by Field Level Media

While the Tennessee Titans were dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak Tuesday, the Las Vegas Raiders may have landed in some pandemic-related trouble, too.

Quarterback Derek Carr was one of several Raiders to show up without masks Monday night at a fundraising event organized by tight end Darren Waller’s foundation, violating NFL regulations and Nevada restrictions.

Video from The Darren Waller Foundation charity event, held at the DragonRidge Country Club in Henderson, Nev., showed Carr and Waller were among a group of Raiders to attend the indoor function that also included Jason Witten, Zay Jones, Nevin Lawson, Foster Moreau, Hunter Renfrow, Derek Carrier and Nathan Peterman. They were mingling with guests in an effort to raise money for youth addiction but were not wearing masks.

Raiders owner Mark Davis, who said he made a donation to the cause but did not attend, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the team would look into the matter internally.

“We obviously take responsibility for this,” Davis told the newspaper. “You don’t like seeing this. I don’t know that it’s actually been built into our memories that you have to wear a mask. Our organization takes it very seriously.”

The NFL and NFL Players Association have an agreement that bans players from activities that violate state and local COVID-19 safety regulations in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The NFL already fined the Raiders $250,000 and head coach Jon Gruden $100,000 for not wearing their masks properly during a Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints. The team, according to ESPN, is also reportedly being investigated for allowing unauthorized locker room access following that Saints victory.

The country club was fined $2,000 for four state of Nevada violations, including people not wearing masks and more than 50 people at an event.

–Field Level Media