The Las Vegas Raiders placed tight end Darren Waller on injured reserve Thursday, according to reports, adding four more games to the three he’s already missed while trying to recover from a hamstring injury.
Additionally, the team also placed wideout Hunter Renfrow on IR with an oblique injury, multiple outlets reported. He, too, will have to miss at least four games.
Also Thursday, linebacker Blake Martinez announced his retirement after six-plus seasons.
Waller has not played since Week 5, when he recorded eight offensive snaps against the Kansas City Chiefs. Waller has been a game-time decision the past two weeks but was inactive for both after testing the hamstring in pregame warmups.
“It’s not like I’m doing anything to keep myself off the field willingly,” Waller told ESPN on Wednesday. “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, 30, signed a three-year, $51 million extension at the end of training camp.
He has 16 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown in five games (four starts). Waller earned his lone Pro Bowl selection in 2020, when he caught 107 passes for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns.
He has 3,359 receiving yards and 17 TDs in 70 career games (50 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens (2015-16) and Raiders.
The Raiders signed TE Jacob Hollister off the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad to take Waller’s spot on the active roster, NFL Network reported. He has appeared in two games this season without recording a stat. Hollister has 83 career catches, 707 yards and seven TDs with four teams since catching on as an undrafted free agent with New England in 2017.
Renfrow, 26, has 21 catches for 192 yards in six games (one start). He missed two games earlier this season with a concussion.
Renfrow also signed a contract extension ahead of the 2022 season, a two-year, $32 million deal with $21 million in guaranteed money.
Martinez, 28, had 20 tackles in four games (two starts) this season. He was signed to the Raiders’ practice squad last month after being released by the New York Giants on Sept. 1.
Martinez made his announcement on Instagram.
“I had an amazing journey with some incredible franchises, and made lifelong friendships,” he wrote in the post. “I have chosen to step away from this career at this time to focus on my family and future passions! I am excited for this new journey and appreciate all the fans and organizations that have supported me throughout the years!”
He finishes with 13 sacks, 22 passes defended and four interceptions in 84 career games (78 starts) with the Green Bay Packers (2016-19), Giants (2020-21) and Raiders. The Packers selected Martinez in the fourth round of the 2016 draft.
–Field Level Media
