The New York Football Giants are 6-1 and it feels so good, but not everything is peachy for head coach Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. Throughout the year, injuries have been a major issue for Big Blue and more of the same was the case in Week 7.
Unfortunately for the G-Men, several guys went down with serious enough injuries that they had to be carted off the field. Now, everyone is keeping their fingers crossed that three guys in particular won’t have to miss a significant amount of time, as the trio we discuss below have been key for NY’s success through seven games.
3. TE Daniel Bellinger
Giants rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger has been among the Giants standouts this season. Bellinger has been a great pass-catching target in 2022, hauling in 16 balls for 152 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for a touchdown. Bellinger has been massive in the running game, and has showed off his strong blocking prowess, opening up holes for Saquon Barkley to fly through.
In the first half of Sunday’s victory, Bellinger was inadvertently poked in the eye by Jaguars rookie linebacker Devin Lloyd during a tackle attempt, and had to be carted off the field. The injury was rather scary, as Bellinger’s eye became very swollen. Bellinger had to be transported to the hospital to undergo testing. Per insider Tom Rock, Bellinger is expected to have surgery, but he’s going further exams to see what his best options are.
Initial word in Daniel Bellinger tonight is he will likely require surgery but his vision seems to be OK. Flew home w team. Will visit an ophthalmologist in NY tomorrow.
— Tom Rock (@TomRock_Newsday) October 24, 2022
The Giants can’t afford to lose Bellinger for a significant amount of time, as he has been a key playmaker in the Giants 6-1 start. Chris Myriack and Tanner Hudson stepped up without Bellinger vs. the Jaguars, but a prolonged Bellinger absence could be costly for the offense.
2. RT Evan Neal
This is by far the most significant injury from Week 7. After his brutal performance against Dallas in Week 3, Evan Neal has been one of the best players on the Giants the last month. Neal is undoubtedly an integral reason the Giants have won four consecutive games.
Evan Neal since week 4:
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) October 22, 2022
• 89 pass blocking snaps
• 1 sack allowed
The Giants rookie tackle hasn’t been letting much past him 👀 pic.twitter.com/lwSZldVWgl
Neal was rolled up on during a first half play on Sunday. After the play, Neal was on the ground writhing in serious pain, leaving Giants fans pretty concerned. Neal, left the contest and was ruled out pretty quickly, with many fearing he would be lost for the season with an ACL tear. However, it seems the Giants dodged that bullet.
The initial belief is #Giants RT Evan Neal suffered an MCL injury, per source. He'll have more tests to determine the full extent.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 23, 2022
The injury is extra brutal for Neal, as he grew up near Jacksonville and had most of his family at the game. Neal and Andrew Thomas, who PFF ranks as the best offensive lineman in football, have both become franchise tackles, and have formed one of the NFL’s most dominant OT duos.
It would be a tough blow for Big Blue if Neal is forced to miss extended time, as the rookie was playing the best football of his young career. With other injuries to the offseason line, the Giants could have multiple backups starting next week. That is certainly not ideal. More information on Neal should be coming soon, but don’t expect the RT to take on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8.
1. LG Ben Bredeson
The Giants left guard left the game in the first half of Sunday’s victory with an apparent knee injury. Ben Bredeson was ruled out instantly, which is usually the sign of something rather serious. Rookie Josh Ezeudu replaced Bredeson at LG.
Bredeson was acquired from Baltimore in a trade on cutdown day in August 2021, and has started every game in 2022 at left guard for the Giants. PFF ranks Bredeson 52 out of 75 qualified guards, and while he is certainly not one of the stars of the Giants offensive line, he has held his own.
Optimism from multiple sources that rookie RG Evan Neal and LG Ben Bredeson avoided serious injuries (ACL tears). Good news in that regard on the injury front for the Giants offensive line.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) October 23, 2022
Luckily, it looks like Bredeson avoided the worst-case scenario here. Ezeudu will likely replace Bredeson in the starting lineup if the veteran is forced to miss time.
While Ezeudu has been solid in his limited time on the field, he is a very inexperienced rookie, and teams never want to make changes to position groups that have been consistent and somewhat dominant – which the Giants offensive line has been early in 2022. We can only hope that all three of these guys can get back on the field soon enough.