Giants rookie TE Daniel Bellinger 'absolutely' plans to play again this season after eye injury
Daniel Bellinger of the Giants is injured on a play in the first half against the Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on Oct. 23 in Jacksonville, Fla. Credit: Getty Images/Mike Carlson
Daniel Bellinger said he “absolutely” plans to return before the end of his rookie season. But for now, the Giants tight end remains shelved because of a left eye injury he suffered against the Jaguars on Oct. 23.
“Just getting out there running the last couple of days felt good,” Bellinger said on Wednesday in his first public comments since the injury.
“Really just kind of getting this swelling to go down completely and once the eye is level with this [other] eye, the vision will be even better.”
Bellinger had 16 catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns before the injury, on which the Jaguars’ Devin Lloyd inadvertently got his hand inside Bellinger’s facemask while making a tackle.
Blood soon began pouring from the wound. “It was all so numb,” he said. “I thought it was sweat just coming down. I didn’t realize it was blood until a little bit later.”
Bellinger called the incident “incredibly scary,” because he was afraid the eye itself had been damaged. But upon reaching a hospital in Jacksonville, a doctor told him the eye was safe.
Still, Bellinger needed a plate inserted to stabilize an orbital fracture. He also had surgery to repair his septum.
He still is experiencing some double vision, which he has been told is normal. He hopes to soon begin lifting weights and catching footballs.
One thing is certain: He plans to wear a protective visor when he returns — and likely for the rest of his career.
Bellinger did not blame Lloyd.
“He was going for the ball and I had the ball close to my facemask and he just got in there," Bellinger said. "It was a freak accident."
He said Lloyd apologized in an Instagram post.
“I played him in college, too, and I never saw him as a dirty player,” Bellinger said. “I think he’s a good player. He apologized for it, so it’s cool.”
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
