The New York Giants enter Week 2 with their heads held high. That’s what happens after you beat your divisional rival that’s been the thorniest of thorns in your side for the past decade in primetime.
Big Blue’s 28-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys was the ultimate team effort and gave fans a taste of what life is going to be like in the John Harbaugh era. Of course, the NFL is a week-to-week business, and just because they looked great in the season opener doesn’t mean anything for how they come out and play under the lights in another primetime game on the road against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams are coming off a brutal 27-7 division loss in Australia to the San Francisco 49ers -- they’ll look to get their Super Bowl hype train back on track, and one name sticks out among the rest. We already know star pass rusher Myles Garrett won’t be available, but the same cannot be said for recently unretired future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who is expected to make his welcome-back debut Monday night.
LA has one of the most outrageously talented rosters in the league, and so New York is going to need the healthiest versions of its best players to show up if they want a chance in this game. Here’s how the initial injury report shook out on Thursday.
Giants’ first Week 2 injury report puts even more pressure on shaky CB room
Did Not Participate in Practice:
- CB Paulson Adebo (knee)
Limited in Practice:
- CB Deonte Banks (Calf)
- DL Chauncey Golston (Neck)
- OL Francis "Sisi" Mauigoa (Shoulder)
- LB Micah McFadden (Neck)
- CB Greg Newsome II (Rib)
- OT Andrew Thomas (Ankle)
Full participant:
N/A
Two concerns stand out instantly. The first doesn’t seem as dire, but it might be more important – that would be the two starting offensive linemen who were both limited: star left tackle Andrew Thomas and rookie right guard Sisi Mauigoa.
I’m going to guess they’ll be healthy for the game, and if Donald returns, their availability becomes as close to life and death for Jaxson Dart as humanly possible. Even without Garrett, LA’s defensive front is still one of the most terrifying in the league.
The second concern is that the Giants might have to play without three of their four boundary corners if things don’t break their way over the next couple of days. Obviously, that’s doomsday, worst-case scenario, but it’s still unsettling to see three of their top four outside corners crack the list. It’s no wonder they signed Nikko Reed to the active roster and Jaden Robinson to the practice squad this week.
With Banks, Newsome, and Adebo working through the injury bug, rookie Colton Hood could be thrown into a larger role, which could be playing with fire.
Matthew Stafford and Co. might not have looked all that intimidating in Week 1, but a Rams receiver room looking to get back to its standards, led by Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, is a dangerous spot for a 21-year-old rookie corner to be in.
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