Daniel Bellinger Injury: Short-Term IR Likely for TE After Freak Eye Fracture

Giants' head coach Brian Daboll said that rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger will undergo surgery to repair a fractured left orbital bone and septum after he was poked through his facemask and taken to the hospital on Sunday. 

Bellinger is a strong candidate to be placed on IR and could return to the Giants donning a (likely) permanent visor in 4-to-6 weeks, according to the Pro Football Docs. 

Daniel Bellinger Injury Update

Bellinger went down after Jaguars' cornerback Tre Herndon accidentally poked him in the eye with his extended hand through the wires of his facemask when he was presumably attempting to punch the football loose. 

The 22-year-old was carted off the field with a significantly swollen eye and blood dripping onto his jersey and Daboll said his eye looked “terrible" after the game. 

Bellinger luckily didn't sustain any damage to his eye but will still return with a visor attached to his helmet to prevent further injury.

The fracture requires surgery likely because it was displaced and he carries a similar return timeline to quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Russel Wilson, who returned from hand and finger fractures in six and four weeks, respectively. 

76ers' center Joel Embiid, who suffered an orbital fracture and concussion in the playoffs last NBA season, was back on the court with a protective facemask eight days later and did not require surgery because his fracture was non-displaced. 

Bellinger, a fourth-round pick out of San Diego State, has been one of the most consistent pass-catchers for the Giants, bringing in 16 of 18 targets for 154 yards and a team-high two touchdowns.