NY Giants down two key weapons against New Orleans Saints

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)

The NY Giants ruled both wide receiver Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton OUT for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints, due to hamstring injuries

The NY Giants will be without two of quarterback Daniel Jones’ most vital weapons in the passing game, as both wide receiver Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton were ruled out for Sunday’s contest at the New Orleans Saints.

Shepard and Slayton each sustained hamstring injuries in the first half of last Sunday afternoon’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

In lieu of two of Jones’ favorite targets, the Giants must find a way Sunday afternoon to get No. 1 wide receiver Kenny Golladay more involved in the passing attack, and will likely expand first-round rookie Kadarius Toney’s role.

Shepard was the NY Giants’ leading receiver, through the first three weeks of the season, catching 18 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown. Slayton, meanwhile, added seven catches for 147 yards and a score, but also has already dropped three passes.

It has been a work in progress, finding a role for Golladay, but Sunday could be his most expansive usage yet.

Thus far, Golladay has caught 11 of his 19 targets for 166 yards, but is still in search of his first touchdown of the season.

The NY Giants enter Sunday’s game as 7.5-point underdogs to the Saints, according to WynnBET, and taking on New Orleans without Shepard or Slayton will make an uphill climb even steeper for New York’s offense that is averaging just 18.7 points per game.

Here is the NY Giants’ full injury report vs. Saints:

OUT

OL Ben Bredeson (hand), WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring), WR Darius Slayton (hamstring)

Questionable:

DB Keion Crossen (elbow), LB Tae Crowder (hamstring), DB Nate Ebner (quad), TE Kaden Smith (knee)

Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com.

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