What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

LV TE Darren Waller 8.9.21 - Missed Last 5 Practices - How Concerned? (2 Viewers)

Within the last week he's been spotted lifting waits and jogging without a limp. No reason to be concerned absence any specific information IMO.

 
I do think it's likely something more than preferential treatment though. He's a young player still. The bolded sounds like there's at least something there. 

From the LV Review article @barackdhouse linked to.

Darren Waller was present for practice but did not participate.

Coach Jon Gruden wouldn’t confirm whether the absence was injury-related, but didn’t sound concerned about his star tight end’s status.

“I think he’s going to be OK,” Gruden said. “We’re being very careful with him. He’s working out very hard with the trainers.”

Waller last participated in practice last Monday and has missed five sessions on the field. He was spotted lifting weights during a practice session last week and jogged on the field Sunday without a noticeable limp.
Click to expand...

 
Joe Bryant said:
He's missed 5 practices. 

@barackdhouse had this.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/raiders/raiders-report-marcus-mariota-has-eyes-for-starting-qb-job-2416048/

How concerned are you?
Click to expand...
I did a big FBG draft on Friday night and in preparation I mocked out a bunch of scenarios for the first few rounds where I would reach for Waller at 5. Then I saw news that he had missed 3 practices (at that time) and I got cold feet. So I was a little concerned then. But I'm not concerned at all now. Sounds like veteran star treatment to me. Maybe he had some small ding but I think this is a question of let's not do anything stupid in the preseason. If I was doing the same draft today I wouldn't hesitate to go with my plan to take him at 5. I have a couple others coming up where I have the 5 and 7 slot and figured I'd wait until the news was more favorable before reaching. I have a couple other builds where I took him at 1.11 and 1.12. So it seemed prudent to wait for better news and now that is here. Or that is what I am reading anyway.

 
barackdhouse said:
I did a big FBG draft on Friday night and in preparation I mocked out a bunch of scenarios for the first few rounds where I would reach for Waller at 5. Then I saw news that he had missed 3 practices (at that time) and I got cold feet. So I was a little concerned then. But I'm not concerned at all now. Sounds like veteran star treatment to me. Maybe he had some small ding but I think this is a question of let's not do anything stupid in the preseason. If I was doing the same draft today I wouldn't hesitate to go with my plan to take him at 5. I have a couple others coming up where I have the 5 and 7 slot and figured I'd wait until the news was more favorable before reaching. I have a couple other builds where I took him at 1.11 and 1.12. So it seemed prudent to wait for better news and now that is here. Or that is what I am reading anyway.
Click to expand...


Thanks GB. That's about where I am too. 

It does feel a little more than just cushy treatment. But I feel pretty good about it. He can be a monster again. 

 
probably a little more fire behind the smoke then we think IMO....I'm guessing he has more than just a little ding.....nothing major maybe, but something that could easily be reaggravated by quick twitch movements or something (hammy, groin, etc.) .....I only say that because I'm not sure this team is a position (chemistry wise/good enough) so to speak to be giving players extended days off for "star treatment" or whatever....you would think they need to be working together as much as possible....I get the whole star treatment/veteran day off thing....and some teams implement it no matter how good/bad they are....but is never usually a bunch of days in a row.... 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Stinkin Ref said:
probably a little more fire behind the smoke then we think IMO....I'm guessing he has more than just a little ding.....nothing major maybe, but something that could easily be reaggravated by quick twitch movements or something (hammy, groin, etc.) .....I only say that because I'm not sure this team is a position (chemistry wise/good enough) so to speak to be giving players extended days off for "star treatment" or whatever....you would think they need to be working together as much as possible....I get the whole star treatment/veteran day off thing....and some teams implement it no matter how good/bad they are....but is never usually a bunch of days in a row.... 
Click to expand...
Yeah it is a little weird. I think the thing is *some* coaches agree it is better to get them that chemistry with those reps together, other coaches don't want to do anything risky in the preseason. It made me think calf strain because those things can be incredibly minor but incredibly pesky and subject to worse aggravation. And when one of those is even moderate it is impossible to perform. So yeah it could easily be more than a ding. But if they're holding him out then I am assuming they're doing the right thing. 

In the link above Gruden says something like we know what they can do, talking about Waller and someone else that was out. That he really wanted to put a lot on the plate of the other guys so they can see what they have with them. But that is likely him spinning it at least a little bit. 

 
I draft on the 28th, so unfortunately any "discount" he might get in drafts right now will likely evaporate. Depending on my 1sr pick/draft positions, I'd not hesitate to draft him as my elite TE. 

When he'd missed a couple practices & the word was it wasn't injury-related, I feared maybe he relapsed or was suffering some related depression. But given his presence with training staff & disposition signing autographs, I don't think that's remotely a concern. 

It's unfortunate the team is so cagey with injury reporting, as it would be nice to know the specific nature of the injury. I'm assuming lower body-related if he's lifting weights, but that's pure speculation. 

 
A darker possibility is a relapse. Hope to be wrong there but 8 straight missed practices with no real mention of an injury is suspect 

 
YoungDro said:
A darker possibility is a relapse. Hope to be wrong there but 8 straight missed practices with no real mention of an injury is suspect 
Click to expand...
That's a possibility. But he's at the facilities, working out and signing autographs. Seems unlikely.

 
My guess is that this is a minor injury at most.   Gruden is not that bright but even he knows that Waller is the only real “WR” in LV.   I don’t expect to see Waller practice or play much until week 1.  

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Joe Bryant
I'd Love Us To Have More News Driven Threads On Specific Topics - Please Help
2 3
Replies
126
Views
5K
renesauz
renesauz
T
My final 2022 mock draft, 3 rounds
2
Replies
56
Views
5K
travdogg
T
socrates
Crazy Early Dynasty Rookie PPR Draft Board (2023 Updated Rankings Page 5)
3 4 5
Replies
213
Views
24K
socrates
socrates

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Back
Top