Las Vegas Raiders to put Darren Waller on IR, source says

HENDERSON, Nev. -- The Las Vegas Raiders will place Darren Waller on injured reserve, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter, in a move that will sideline the star tight end for at least four more games.

The roster move will come exactly one month after Waller suffered a strained left hamstring in a Week 5 loss against the Chiefs -- an injury that already has sidelined the Pro Bowler for three games.

Waller, who played just eight snaps in that "Monday Night Football" game in Kansas City, will not be eligible to return until the Raiders (2-6) play the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 8.

Waller, who signed a three-year, $51 million extension just before the season, told ESPN on Wednesday that no one is more frustrated by the injury than he is.

"It's not like I'm doing anything to keep myself off the field willingly," said Waller, who had tested his hamstring out in pregame drills the previous two weeks. "I'm doing everything that I can. It just may not be happening in the timetable that I'd like for that to happen."

Waller also dealt with a right hamstring issue that forced him to miss significant time during training camp. He has missed eight of Las Vegas' past 14 regular-season games after also suffering injuries to his back and knee in a Thanksgiving game against the Dallas Cowboys last year.

Waller's numbers have paled in comparison to his previous production; he has just 16 catches for 175 yards and one touchdown this season. He had a franchise-record 107 receptions for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020, one year after he had 90 catches for 1,145 yards and three TDs in 2019.