NY Giants place Tae Crowder on injured reserve

NY Giants rookie linebacker Tae Crowder was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury Wednesday

Life in the NFL can be cruel.

NY Giants linebacker Tae Crowder went from the hero, returning a fumble for the game-winning touchdown in Sunday’s victory over the Washington Football Team, to being placed on injured reserve Tuesday.

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Crowder, the Giants announced, suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday’s game. The final player chosen in April’s NFL Draft, Crowder now will be forced to miss at least three games, beginning with Thursday night’s NFC East clash with the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Giants announced that defensive end Jabaal Sheard would take Crowder’s place on the 53-man roster, after signing off the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad. However, he will not be eligible to play until Week 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as he is still in the process of going through the COVID-19 testing and onboarding process.

Prior to getting injured, Crowder earned a 36.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, producing 11 tackles, and returning a Washington QB Kyle Allen fumble 43 yards to lift the Giants to a 20-19 victory.

The Giants will likely turn to sixth-round rookie Cam Brown to play extended snaps Thursday night in Crowder’s absence. Brown has been a consistent contributor on special teams, but played fewer than 10 snaps on defense so far this season.

Earlier Tuesday, the Giants designated wide receiver Sterling Shepard to return from injured reserve.

Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.