The New York Giants put on a defensive clinic in their preseason opener against the Detroit Lions, holding them to 228 total yards and just three points. One player who stood out on the defensive end was inside linebacker Dyontae Johnson, who recorded four total tackles (two TFLs) and one sack.
Despite his stellar display, Johnson went down with an ankle injury toward the end of the third quarter. His stock had been trending upward during training camp, so it was worrisome for an already thin Giants linebackers room when he went down. According to ESPN's Jordan Raanan, Johnson is dealing with an ankle sprain and he's 'week to week' moving forward.
LB Dyontae Johnson is considered week to week with an ankle sprain. A tough blow. He’s made a strong impression in training camp + preseason.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) August 10, 2024
The undrafted rookie out of Toledo has received some first-team reps this summer. Had a sack and key third-down tackle vs. Lions. https://t.co/Gr975plMYQ
Dyontae Johnson avoided a serious injury for the NY Giants
Johnson had been pushing for a roster spot all training camp, much to the surprise of NY fans. The undrafted free agent signed with the Giants in 2023 and never played a snap in his rookie year. However, the team decided to bring him back for a second season and he excelled during training camp, which led him to being named Micah McFadden's backup on the unofficial depth chart.
In the three quarters he played in vs. Detroit, Johnson was excellent. He earned a 74.8 Pro Football Focus grade, the fifth-highest mark among all Giants defensive players. His first-quarter sack on Nate Sudfeld set the tone and he was especially effective in the run game.
While some people might have held doubts about the Toledo product given his lack of in-game experience, he quickly dispelled them with his strong performance in NY's preseason debut. It is looking more and more likely that he will crack a spot on the 53-man roster by the start of the season. Not only that, but some think he could push McFadden for the LB2 job next to Bobby Okereke.
A long-term injury to the budding linebacker would have been a massive blow to the G-Men. Nothing is worse than an underdog like Johnson having his opportunity taken away due to injury, especially during the preseason. It's a bit of a setback that he's dealing with this sprain and he probably won't play against the Texans in the second preseason game of the summer, but he should be good to go for Week 1.