Darren Waller Injury: Is There More Than Meets The Eye With His Hamstring Strain?

Raiders tight end Darren Waller has hardly practiced and hasn't played in the preseason after reportedly suffering a hamstring strain early in training camp.

Recently, Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels was vague on Waller’s availability for Week 1 against their division rival, the Los Angeles Chargers.

Waller's extended absence has fans and the fantasy community worried, but there may be more to the story.

He also fired his agent on Thursday and is in the five-day waiting period to sign a new one.

When asked about getting a new contract, Waller replied:

“I just focus on enjoying it while I’m here — whether I’m here 10 years or who knows how long, just being present here,” Waller said in a recent press conference. “And my agent’s job is to do that stuff. I just focus on the football part because if you don’t focus on football and your mind’s elsewhere.”  

After his hamstring strain on July 30, Waller has practiced just once – on Aug. 18.

While the severity of the injury remains unknown, it's possible the injury could affect Waller early in the season.

It's also possible that Waller isn't in a rush to get back on the field for a team that has not committed to him long term.

The Raiders have been big spenders this off-season, rewarding players such as Hunter Renfrow, Maxx Crosby, Derek Carr, Chandler Jones, and Davante Adams with new contracts.

Before Waller broke onto the fantasy scene, the Raiders rewarded him with a four-year extension, paying him around $7.45 million per year. This was a great deal in 2019 for a TE with less than 20 receptions. 

Now, he’s the 17th highest-paid TE in the NFL, per Spotrac. He's due $6.8 million in base salary this season and $7 million next season before he's an unrestricted free agent in 2024.

The clock is ticking for the 29-year-old, but Waller has been one of the best tight ends in the NFL the past two seasons. He has posted a PFF grade of 68.2 and 86.5 over his last two seasons with the Raiders and has 90 or more targets in the previous three seasons.

After staying healthy for his first two years starting with the Raiders, he faced multiple injuries last year that resulted in him missing six games. He had an ankle injury that made him miss a Week 7 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, then suffered a season-ending IT band knee injury on Thanksgiving.

His new head coach, Josh McDaniels, comes from the Bill Belichick coaching tree, with his teams usually having a pass-blocking TE. 

Whatever is going on with Waller in Las Vegas, fans and fantasy football fanatics certainly hope the situation is resolved soon.