The New York Giants have had a lot going on during their mini bye week. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart’s been chirped at. Fellow rookie Cam Skattebo fired his shot. Fellow, fellow rookie Abdul Carter even dropped a Godfather reference when asked about the trash talk spewing out of Denver.
Related: Giants fans just crowned Nik Bonitto their newest villain after deleted post
As the Giants pack for Mile High, all that really matters now is the final injury report. And one name sticks out like a sore hamstring.
Carter, the third overall pick and an essential piece of New York’s pass rush, was a surprise addition to the report Friday afternoon. He’s officially questionable with a hamstring issue, and while he spoke to the media post-practice like a guy who plans to play, there’s now a real chance the Giants take the field Sunday without their most explosive rookie.
And that would be a brutal development heading into a high-altitude brawl with a Broncos team that’s 4-2, playing solid football, and not short on bulletin-board material of their own.
Giants’ final Week 7 injury report centers on Abdul Carter’s sudden hamstring concern
Here is Friday's final injury report ahead of their Week 7 clash in Denver:
Out:
- LB Swayze Bozeman (Ankle)
- LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (Hamstring)
- C John Michael Schmitz (Concussion)
Doubtful:
- DL Chauncey Golston (Neck)
- WR Darius Slayton (Hamstring)
Questionable:
- OLB Abdul Carter (Hamstring)
- OLB Victor Dimukeje (Pec
There’s no sugarcoating it — Carter’s game status is everything.
The late-week addition to the injury report is always a red flag. The fact that it’s a hamstring makes it even worse. And while Carter didn’t sound overly concerned when speaking to the media, this isn’t a guy with empty snaps. He’s got 24 pressures through six games and plays with an edge that can’t really be schemed up.
Even if he suits up, anything less than 100% is a problem for a defense that will already be without its entire linebacking room: Bozeman, Flannigan-Fowles, and potentially Golston.
Center John Michael Schmitz remains out with a concussion, meaning Jaxson Dart’s shot at road loss redemption comes with backup center Austin Schlottman, who quietly did a great job filling in for JMS against Philadelphia. Not ideal, but not the worst. Slayton is doubtful with a hamstring, which continues to chip away at an already inconsistent receiving corps.
It'll likely be up to Wan'Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, and Lil'Jordan Humphrey to shoulder the receiver load. Look for a heavy dose of tight end Theo Johnson in this one.
Dimukeje could be activated off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, but that decision hasn’t been made yet. And even if it is, you’re talking about a guy who hasn’t played a down since last December. So, not exactly headline-worthy, but this is where the addition of former Broncos linebacker Jonas Griffith could come into play.
The team signed him a few days ago to address the growing depth concern in the linebacker room.