- The New York Giants were hit hard by injury on Sunday as three key offensive contributors were sidelined.
- Running back Saquon Barkley suffered a low ankle sprain and is listed as ‘doubtful’ for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
- Quarterback Daniel Jones left Sunday’s game with a concussion and is listed as ‘day to day’.
- Wide receiver Kenny Golladay has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Rams with a hyperextended knee.
Injuries are part of life in the National Football League and every team has to deal with them. Just not all at once. That’s the situation that the New York Giants are in after a disastrous day for their offense. Three key contributors left Sunday’s 44-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys: quarterback Daniel Jones, wide receiver Kenny Golladay and running back Saquon Barkley. The timeline for their return is still up in the air.
Running back Saquon Barkley was the first to exit–he was carted off the field in the first quarter with an injured ankle. His left foot turned sideways when he stepped on the foot of Dallas cornerback Jourdan Lewis while trying to make a play. He limped off the field and was clearly in significant pain. He was examined on the sideline and when he took his shoe off the ankle was severely swolen. At that point, he was taken to the locker room and ruled out for the rest of the game.
On Monday, he was diagnosed with a low ankle sprain. He is listed as ‘doubtful’ for Sunday’s game against the Rams but beyond that he’s considered ‘week to week’. He was wearing a boot and crutches following the game. Backup running back Devontae Booker stepped in for Barkley and after the contest said that his condition was still unclear:
“He’s very humble. So he may be back next week. Who knows?”
Wide receiver Kenny Golladay gave this report after speaking with Barkley in the locker room:
“It’s fresh. So I’m pretty sure it’s frustrating for him. But at the same time, he’s in good spirits as well. Hopefully he’s able to go.”
Quarterback Daniel Jones left the game late in the first half after absorbing a helmet to helmet hit from Cowboys’ linebacker Jabril Cox. Golladay gave the report on Jones’ condition:
“To be honest, I thought he just got the wind knocked out of him cause he laid there for a second but got up, put his hands on his knees. Any time you see a player stumble a little bit, doesn’t matter a quarterback or not, kind of scary. So definitely trying to make sure he’s all right.”
Head coach Joe Judge didn’t offer many details in his post game comments:
“I’m not going to get into any medical diagnosis. I saw him in the locker room afterwards right there. Just checked on him. In terms of where he’ll go next week, I don’t have an answer for you right now. We’ll see where he goes. Obviously we’re all hopeful that he’ll be back and he’ll be healthy.”
Jones is currently listed as ‘day to day’ though the team is expected to offer more information as the week progresses. Mike Glennon came on in relief of Jones and went 16-of-25 for 196 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Wide receiver Golladay suffered his injury in the first quarter but tried to play through it. He eventually left at halftime with what has been reported as a hyperextended knee:
“Tried to fight through it but the pain kind of got a little bit worse. It’s frustrating.”
After the aforementioned three players left the Giants had 4 remaining offensive starters from Week 1 able to play. The Giants were without left tackle Andrew Thomas (foot), wide receiver Sterling Shepard (hamstring), left guard Shane Lemieux (knee) and center Nick Gates (leg). Thomas was active but only in an ’emergency role’. Lemieux and Gates are on injured reserve. Shepard is listed as ‘day to day’ while Thomas is ‘questionable’. Wide receiver Darius Slayton has also been injured and is currently ‘day to day’.
Despite all the uncertainty due to the injury situation in New York the game against the Rams is still on the board at most sportsbooks. The Giants are a +10.5 point home underdog to Los Angeles with the total set at 47.5.
