Micah McFadden entered the 2025 season with his sights set on a breakout in a contract year with the New York Giants. The opportunity was ripped away from him just 11 plays into the season. During the first quarter of Big Blue's Week 1 matchup with the Washington Commanders, McFadden suffered a Lisfranc injury in his right foot, ending his season minutes after it began.
The 26-year-old linebacker has waited impatiently for 11 months to make his return. New York brought him back on a one-year, $3.75 million contract, much less than he could have made had he stayed healthy. Tremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese have since been added to the linebacker room, knocking McFadden down the pecking order.
Still, he's raring to go as the Giants enter the preseason. When asked if he would feel emotional or ready to run through a wall in his return, McFadden said, "The second one."
Giants LB Micah McFadden is ready to run through a wall in preseason return from injury
McFadden was a capable linebacker before his injury. In 48 career games, he has logged 270 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and six sacks. He surpassed 100 tackles in each of his two seasons as a full-time starter. While somewhat limited in coverage, he's not afraid to meet a running back with force between the tackles.
His absence was sorely missed last year, when the Giants finished with one of the worst run defenses in the NFL.
Fully recovered from his injury, McFadden has been making his presence felt in training camp. According to Dan Duggan, "McFadden has looked good all camp."
While he's currently slated to be Big Blue's third off-ball linebacker, behind Edmunds and Reese, the fifth-year veteran looks ready to make a serious impact in Dennard Wilson's defense.
Still, rookie Jack Kelly has been gaining momentum on his journey up the depth chart. The sixth-round draft pick has been taking second-team reps in training camp and even holding his own against the starting offense. McFadden is still the clear third man in the hierarchy, but fans are excited about Kelly's early development. With a strong preseason, the rookie could eat into McFadden's reps.
For many teams, the battle for the third off-ball linebacker spot would seem inconsequential. Reese's positional versatility makes this a different situation. As the rookie is moved around the defensive formation, as John Harbaugh has stated that he will be, the third off-ball linebacker will see important snaps. Especially on early downs, McFadden could end up playing a key role for the G-Men.
The Giants will kick off their preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday. Every player on the field will feel the weight of a return to football. McFadden will feel it more than any of them.
The next three weeks of preseason football represent a tremendous opportunity for the veteran to re-establish his presence on the Giants' defense. After waiting for 11 months, he is more than ready for the challenge.
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