Giants getting major offensive line boost ahead of Lions matchup
By Mike Luciano
Despite injuries to names like Evan Neal and Shane Lemieux on the offensive line, the New York Giants have continued to reel off victories thanks to some clutch offensive playmaking and a stifling pass defense. A portion of the cavalry is coming ahead of their Week 11 matchup against a suddenly hot opponent.
The Giants are facing a Detroit Lions team that possesses one of the more underrated and explosive passing games in the league. To counteract this, Brian Daboll will likely try to control the clock and feed the resurgent Saquon Barkley as many times as he can.
Lemiuex, who had some solid moments during the early stages of the Joe Judge era, has been trying to work his way back into the fold after barely playing for the better part of two years. His injury woes are behind him, as the former Oregon Duck is back in the building.
Lemieux will be activated off IR and make his season debut against Detroit. With third-round rookie Josh Ezeudu sitting this game out due to a neck injury, Lemieux will get to test himself against No. 2 pick Aidan Hutchinson and a Lions defense that has improved in the last few weeks.
#Giants will activate LG Shane Lemieux from IR by Saturday’s 4 pm deadline and plan is for him to start Sunday’s game against the Lions, per sources.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) November 18, 2022
Lemieux is making his season debut after missing the first nine games following surgery to repair serious toe injury in preseason.
The New York Giants welcomed back Shane Lemieux.
Lemieux has had a very rough go of it in the last few seasons, as he has played just 17 snaps since the end of the 2020 season. He and fellow Giants lineman Nick Gates have made heroic returns to the field at a time when there was doubt about if they would ever play again.
Lemieux graded out as one of the worst pass protectors in the NFC as a rookie, but he put up some very promising tape as a run-blocker. With Barkley back to his old self, expect to see Daboll run right at a Lions defense that has been the sole reason for multiple victories slipping away.
The Giants could have a legitimate guard competition on their hands. If Lemieux shows that his run blocking up to par against a very beatable Detroit defense, Ezeudu may end up getting Wally Pipp’d by the veteran road grader. Lemieux was one of the few bright spots on Dave Gettleman’s Day 3 drafting resume in New York.
Josh Ezeudu (neck) getting banged up this week made this necessary. Lemieux will be back starting at LG, his first start since Week 1 of last year. https://t.co/Hti3msAjDy
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) November 19, 2022
Lemiuex is not going to be the reason the Giants win or lose against a Lions team that has won two in a row, but any added protection for Daniel Jones and extra big running lanes that can be created for Barkley are something positive that New York would love to integrate into their game plan.
