Giants’ Dexter Lawrence Added to Injury Report
As if the end of the season wasn’t already bleak, defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence found himself on the Giants’ injury report after sitting out practice due to an illness.
Lawrence isn’t alone; teammates Abdul Carter, Theo Johnson, and Jalin Hyatt are also out with similar health issues that have swept through the locker room.
This season has been tough for Lawrence, who started every game but faced significant challenges. His performance has dipped noticeably, leading to criticism from former Giants linebacker Carl Banks.
Struggling against consistent double teams, he’s now recorded just half as many sacks as last year, when he hit a career high of nine.
The Giants are still reeling from a rough year, and defensive linemen Jevon Holland (dealing with knee and concussion issues) and Cordale Flott (also knee-related) might miss practice as well.
On the offensive side, Wan’Dale Robinson, who has been nursing a rib injury, missed practice too.
The season has been particularly challenging for Johnson, who has had issues with dropped passes. Interim offensive coordinator Tim Kelly attributes this to timing mishaps, noting that sometimes the ball reaches him quicker than he expects.
Kelly pointed out that Johnson, tied with Darius Slayton for the most drops on the team (five), missed some key plays against the Patriots and Eagles. “He definitely has to make that catch,” Kelly reflected. The expectation is clear: players should track the ball and integrate their instincts to make those crucial catches.
With Mike Kafka and interim defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen’s auditions set to conclude on Sunday, the team is likely looking for a fresh start.
Bullen, when asked about his future, maintained a level-headed perspective, stressing that his focus is on hard work and competing rather than on what may come next.
Kelly praised quarterback Jackson Dart’s impressive “sense of space,” highlighting his ability to gauge when to deliver the ball effectively. This kind of anticipation is key for success on the field.
On another note, the Giants have cycled through four kickers this season—five if you count punter Jamie Gillan, who substituted for the injured Graham Gano. However, it seems they might have found a gem in Ben Soles, who went 4 for 4 on field goals and converted all 5 extra point attempts.
Special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial expressed confidence in Soles, stating he approaches every kick as an individual challenge, regardless of distance or conditions. While some of his kickoffs could use improvement, Ghobrial remarked that Soles is moving in the right direction.
