The suddenly surging New York Giants will get a major boost to their offense on Sunday with the return of tight end Darren Waller to the lineup.
Waller missed the last five games with a hamstring injury but returned to practice this week. The Giants listed him as questionable for their Week 15 matchup with the New Orleans Saints before being activated on Saturday.
The Giants are activating TE Darren Waller from injured reserve for Sunday’s game vs. the Saints, per source.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) December 16, 2023
Waller practiced and took team reps this week after missing 5 games with a hamstring injury. He was officially questionable for Sunday.#giants #saints
The eight-year veteran makes his way back to the field at the perfect time. The G-men are thriving, winning three in a row behind unexpected budding star, quarterback Tommy DeVito.
The undrafted rookie has led the Giants to a 3-1 record in four starts but averaged only 170 passing yards a game. That's where Waller could come in handy.
At 31, Waller isn't the same player he once was, but he's proven, even this season, he can still be impactful.
Waller has 36 catches for 384 yards (10.7 YPC) and a touchdown through eight games. Excluding Week 8, when he left early with an injury, he's posted three catches or more in every game he's played this season.
Furthermore, he was beginning to heat up, posting 20 receptions for 227 yards and a score from Week 5 through Week 7.
The Saints are also a great matchup for Waller, as tight ends have feasted on their defense.
Recently, Chicago Bears' Cole Kmet (six catches, 55 yards, two TDs), Minnesota Vikings' T.J. Hockenson (11 catches, 134 yards, one TD) and Detroit Lions' Sam LaPorta (nine catches, 140 yards, one TD), have gotten the better of them.
There is concern that Waller's injury may flare up again, as this is the second time he's dealt with hamstring issues this season. However, if healthy, he's definitely an upgrade for DeVito and company.
With a 5-8 mark, the Giants are surprisingly still alive in the NFC playoff hunt, but they cannot afford to lose more games. It's still a long shot, but if they are to keep their miraculous ride going, getting back an experienced Pro Bowler can't hurt.
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