The New York Giants might be celebrating their win over the Dallas Cowboys in the season opener, but one player is left without much to be excited about. Second-year defensive tackle Darius Alexander was hardly part of the game plan.
Alexander was often tabbed as a breakout candidate this offseason, and for good reason. The 2025 third-round pick was expected to step into a bigger role with Dexter Lawrence II out of the picture. Even with DJ Reader locked into the starting lineup, 35-year-old Shelby Harris was Alexander's biggest competition for reps.
After just one week, that breakout hype has been completely snuffed out. Alexander failed to make any kind of impact against Dallas, while the rest of the interior defensive line performed at a high level.
Giants DT Darius Alexander's breakout hype is officially gone after Week 1
Alexander seemed to be set up perfectly for a major step forward in his second season. New York's interior defensive line didn't have a clear pecking order, and he brought valuable versatility to the table. While he wasn't especially productive as a rookie, the last few weeks of the season were his best. Unfortunately, that breakout chance might already be squashed.
The first sign of concern came when the Giants released their unofficial Week 1 depth chart. Reader, Harris, and Chauncey Golston were all listed as starters, while Alexander fell to the second line.
Still, he could have hoped to be a more significant part of the rotation than he was in the season opener.
Alexander logged just 18 defensive snaps on the day. He didn't record a single tackle, run stop, or pass deflection — nothing. He faded into the background while the rest of the Giants' front stepped into the spotlight.
Golston had 28 snaps, Reader had 27, and Harris had 26. Alexander was the clear fourth man in the rotation, and even C.J. Okoye took some snaps away from him.
The defensive front was too solid against Dallas to warrant any changes, so there isn't an obvious path for Alexander to increase his role.
Moving forward, it seems like the second-year defensive tackle is going to be no more than a rotational piece for Big Blue's defense. His limited playing time in the opener may be nothing more than the coaching staff showing an early preference for veterans, but his lack of impact when on the field isn't going to earn him any more snaps.
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