Bellinger set to be weapon in Waller’s place

It had been a while since Daniel Bellinger caught multiple passes in a game for the Giants.

The addition of Darren Waller to the offense had limited Bellinger’s role and he had just four receptions through the team’s first eight games. But then Waller went down with a hamstring injury and Bellinger finished Sunday’s blowout loss to the Raiders with three receptions — not exactly turning heads, but becoming more a part of the passing game after finishing his rookie season last year with 30 catches and a pair of touchdowns.

And even though his numbers are down drastically this season, the second-year tight end is convinced he’s a better offensive weapon than he was a year ago and he credited Waller for the improvement.

“Waller and I are different kinds of players, but I’ve been able to learn things from him about how he does things and approaches the game,’’ Bellinger said after practice Friday. “That’s helped me and our other tight ends a lot.’’

Asked what he’s been able to pick up from Waller, who’s on injured reserve, Bellinger said, “Just how he sees and reads defenses and how he’ll attack leverage on certain guys.”

While not new concepts to Bellinger, watching Waller work has impacted his game.

“I kind of knew those things, but wasn’t sure how to apply it sometimes,” Bellinger said. “So just watching how he does it helps me a lot.”

In particular, Bellinger has seen how Waller comes back to the quarterback on routes.

With undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito under center because of injuries to Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor, the Giants will need all the help they can get and the loss of Waller won’t make it easier.

But perhaps Bellinger, a 6-foot-6 target, can be an aid to DeVito, especially since nearly half of Bellinger’s 30 receptions last year (14) went for first downs.