In theory, the Giants were well set up to handle tight end Darren Waller’s retirement.

Daniel Bellinger, who started 11 games as a rookie in 2022 before Waller’s arrival, could have slid right back into the starting role as a better player for having picked up some new route-running tricks as the understudy to a Pro Bowler.

Or rookie Theo Johnson – a fourth-round draft pick, whom the Giants spent extra pre-draft time on because Waller provided a courtesy heads-up in January that he was considering retirement – could have filled the void created when Waller hung up his cleats in June. 

But that duo combined for a paltry four catches for 51 yards entering Thursday’s night game against the Cowboys.

No other Giants tight end had a catch through three games, meaning they were getting less in the passing game from tight ends than any other team.

“We play a certain style each week,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “Their job is to do a good job in the run game. In terms of them staying in for protection, they’re doing a good job with that. I think it’s a tough group. I’m pleased with them.”

The Giants transformed the position from a No. 1 pass catcher – the vision when trading for Waller in March 2023 – to primarily a sixth (or sixth and seventh) offensive lineman over the first three games, whether Johnson (81.9 percent of the offensive snaps) or nine-year veteran Chris Manhertz (36.6 percent) was on the field.

A would-be touchdown pass slipped through Johnson’s outstretched hands last week. Manhertz wasn’t targeted on 73 snaps but was a contributor to the Giants averaging 4.2 yards per carry.

“I honestly think it reaffirms what we already know that we’re capable of,” Manhertz said after the offense scored three touchdowns in back-to-back games. “Going toe-to-toe with [the Browns] gave us a good challenge to kind of pay it forward.”

Bellinger’s role had been reduced to a three-year low (23.1 percent of the snaps).

Lawrence Cager, a converted receiver who showed flashes as a pass-catcher over the two previous years with the Giants, was cut after training camp, re-signed to the practice squad and now is on injured reserve.

Tight end/fullback Jakob Johnson and Joel Wilson are also on the practice squad.

Getting more out of the tight ends would be one way to ease the burden on Malik Nabers, who had an NFL-high 38 percent target share through his first three career games.

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“If we have to transition that,” offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said, “then we will.”

Nabers and teammate Wan’Dale Robinson were two of the NFL’s four most-targeted receivers (22 times apiece) on routes shallower than 10 yards downfield – a prime depth where a tight end could create a mismatch.

“I think we’ve got a lot of confidence in those guys,” quarterback Daniel Jones said. “Every game is going to play out a little bit differently in terms of what the defense is doing, and that’s the way it’s going to work out sometimes. But they had a great training camp, and I’m sure they’ll show up big for us.”