NY Giants rookie Shane Lemieux will make his first career start Monday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, replacing Will Hernandez
NY Giants rookie guard Shane Lemieux will make his first career start Monday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sources tell GMenHQ.
Lemieux, chosen by the Giants in the fifth-round of April’s NFL Draft out of Oregon, has played two offensive snaps so far this season but will get the nod at left guard in place of Will Hernandez, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
Hernandez tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, and Lemieux was a close contact of Hernandez and was forced to miss Thursday’s practice as a result. However, Lemieux passed a COVID-19 test Friday and was able to return.
The Giants turn to Lemieux over veteran center/guard Spencer Pulley, and practice squad lineman Chad Slade.
Fielding linebackers Shaq Barrett and Devin White, and defensive linemen Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh, the Buccaneers have plenty of playmakers that could make life miserable for the left side of the Giants line that will feature Lemiuex playing alongside struggling rookie offensive tackle Andrew Thomas.
The Giants host the Buccaneers on Monday night at 8:30 p.m. at MetLife Stadium.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.