The NY Giants took some injury risks this offseason and its already shown
The NY Giants had a splashy offseason, but there are some injury concerns with some of Dave Gettleman’s marquee additions
The NY Giants have had a loud offseason.
New York made plenty of moves on every spectrum of the NFL transaction universe.
The Giants did it all by signing high-priced free agents, under-the-radar veterans, trading back in the draft numerous times, drafting six players (all of whom have made the team), and they have been wheeling and dealing the last two weeks with a whopping five trades.
As exciting as it all sounds, it hasn’t been a great offseason for a majority of the 2021 acquisitions.
Top free agent signings, and the NY Giants’ top draft choice, have not been able to stay healthy or be on the field as a unit together. The majority of the team’s biggest incoming players haven’t been able to put together three healthy weeks of practice.
The NY Giants added so many new faces to the roster. They will keep building the team on the fly throughout the week to put the final touches on their Week 1 roster. However, there are hanging injury issues arising above the Giants’ heads.
Here is a look at 2021 NY Giants’ offseason acquisitions and their injury status so far this offseason.
Kadarius Toney, Wide Receiver
Kadarius Toney has not had the ideal first NFL offseason.
Toney started off from the very beginning with issues. First, he didn’t have cleats that fit properly. He missed some optional offseason activities and trained elsewhere. Toney tested positive for COVID-19 just days before training camp and missed the beginning of camp.
After his return, it has been very slow for him to gradually get back to full speed. He has mysteriously dealt with an unknown injury for several weeks now. It’s a puzzling situation, to say the least, and he’s missing valuable time on the practice field along with missing the entire preseason. He needs to get reps immediately. It all starts with him getting healthy and back to full speed.
Kenny Golladay, Wide Receiver
Kenny Golladayis another fellow newcomer to the NY Giants who has missed almost all of training camp.
Golladay hurt his hamstring early in August that has kept him off the field ever since. Golladay has started returning to practice (albeit in a very limited fashion), but it’s a positive development nonetheless.
Golladay needs to stay healthy and be the top target he was signed to be for Daniel Jones. The Giants need him to play Week 1 to take off stress from the offense and have a viable WR1 outside threat on the field.
Kyle Rudolph, Tight End
Kyle Rudolph is a part of perhaps the Giants’ most banged-up position group right now.
Rudolph is working his way back from an offseason foot surgery. He just returned to practice last week but didn’t see any live reps against the Patriots in their preseason contest. Rudolph’s health is something the Giants are counting on to field a successful offense this year. His value is even more important with Evan Engram’s pending calf injury as well.
The Giants could really use a massive security blanket like Rudolph. Dependency at the tight end position is something the NY Giants have lacked for years and Rudolph could buck that trend in 2021 if he stays healthy.
John Ross, Wide Receiver
John Ross is forever known as the 40-Yard King. However, it’s time for Ross to stay healthy in order to reclaim his right to the throne.
Ross has missed most of August with hamstring injuries. It’s a similar issue that has unfortunately followed him throughout his career. Ross made the Giants’ 53-man roster but then was placed on short-term injured reserve. He will miss at least the first three games of the season, and it could be longer depending on his comeback, recovery, and avoiding any setbacks.
Ross could be a sparkplug for this offense if healthy. Now he just needs to prove he can do that.
The Hogmollies, Offensive Linemen
Here, we grouped all the offensive linemen together.
The NY Giants saw two linemen retire just four days apart in training camp when Joe Looney and Zach Fulton both hung up their Nikes. Ted Larsen was signed in as a fill-in but ended up getting hurt and going on IR.
Put together, the 2021 newcomers didn’t get it done. They did not make it through training camp which is sometimes what happens in the NFL along with an entree of plain bad luck.