Last night, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller suffered a hamstring injury last night on Monday Night Football. In fact, Waller only played six snaps. His ailment left the Raiders short-handed against the Kansas City Chiefs, though the Silver and Black nearly pulled it off to their credit. Nevertheless, Waller’s injury evoked a strong response from Raider Nation on social media.
The 2022 regular season has gotten off to an underwhelming start for the Pro Bowl tight end. Five games in, Waller only has 16 catches for a paltry 175 yards based on 24 targets from Derek Carr. To his credit, Waller has been instrumental in run blocking, but obviously for a player of his level, that’s not exactly what he’s getting paid for. No. 83 isn’t making it easier for himself either with crucial drops the last few weeks, especially catches that could’ve been touchdowns.
What did Raider Nation say about Darren Waller?
Describe #Raiders TE Darren Waller's season so far in ONE word #RaiderNation GO: ______
— RaiderRamble.comâ„¢ (@TheRaiderRamble) October 11, 2022
We decided to gauge Raider Nation’s thoughts on the matter, and as always, they made their opinions known. The general consensus surrounding Waller isn’t a good one. As most will recall, Waller got a renegotiated contract, which many fans felt was well-deserved. He’s been a revelation for the Raiders after being discovered on the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad. Regrettably, though, those same fans are now turning on the tight end.
A common response you’ll see in our poll makes reference to said money. Essentially, you could sum up many responses as “Waller got paid and now he’s forgotten how to play.” Funny enough, we were asking for one-word answers, but Waller’s injury and 2022 efforts are something that Raider Nation feels passionate about.
Looking ahead, there’s still plenty of football to be played, so calling Waller a bust or anything remotely close to that, is premature. As far as talent goes, Waller is still one of the best tight ends in the NFL. It’ll be interesting to see if he can bounce back after the bye week. Perhaps Josh McDaniels can find another way to incorporate Waller further. At the same time, Waller’s drops also need to be addressed. They merit plenty of attention.
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*Top Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images