TE Waller isn’t near returning

Weeks, not days.

That is the assessment of tight end Darren Waller, who is dealing with a new injury and will not be on the field for the Giants any time soon.

Waller left last week’s overtime loss to the Jets in the first quarter with a strained hamstring.

GIANTS NOTES

“We’ll take him day by day, but you never know how hamstrings are, so we’ll see where he’s at by the end of the week,’’ coach Brian Daboll said.

Forget about the day-by-day time frame for Waller, who was supposed to be a pass-catching difference-maker after he was acquired from the Raiders for a third-round draft pick. He has a history with this particular injury and it is not encouraging. He played in only nine games last season with the Raiders with nagging and repeated hamstring issues.

“The main reason I missed eight games last year was because I was trying to come back in like two and re-aggravating it two or three times in practice where nobody could really see it so it’s like, ‘Where is this guy?’ ’’ Waller said Wednesday. “I’m taking a little bit more of an approach of OK, if it’s four weeks, if it’s three weeks, if it’s whatever it is, use that time efficiently and not try to be a hero and come back. I got to take care of my body first.’’

Waller in eight games has a team-leading 36 receptions for 384 yards and one touchdown.

➤ QB Tyrod Taylor is dealing with an injury to his rib cage and was seeing doctors on Wednesday. Matt Barkley, signed to the practice squad on Tuesday, participated in his first practice with the Giants. He is expected to remain on the practice squad at least for this week, with Tommy DeVito — after making his NFL debut last Sunday — in the role as the backup to Daniel Jones for this weekend’s game against the Raiders in Las Vegas.

➤ There is a chance the Giants get back their two starting offensive tackles for this game. LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and RT Evan Neal (ankle) practiced on a limited basis, as they did last week. Both players are further along this week and Daboll said both have “an opportunity’’ to play Sunday.