Word will spread. Tyrone Tracy lost the ball in a fumble on the first play of overtime in Munich two weeks ago. Now, the rest of the NFL is on guard that this rookie running back might put the ball on the ground.
The same thing happened Sunday in the Giants' 30-7 loss to the Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium.
“There's blood flowing right now,” Tracy said. “You have to understand this is the NFL and ball safety is job security.”
Trailing 23-0, the Giants opened the third quarter with a score on Tommy DeVito's three passes to Malik Nabors (who had been off target in the first half), and the Giants were at the Tampa 5-yard line. advanced to.
Challenging for extra yards, Tracy went direct for first-and-goal, but was hit by linebacker Lavonte David and fumbled, the spilled ball being recovered by defensive lineman Kaliyah Kancey. The Bucs gained 95 yards in 12 plays to make it 30-0.
“I had the ball in my right hand, but I should have had it in my left,” Tracy said. “I'm always trying to fight for extra yards, but I've come to understand when enough is enough. That kind of hurt us. If a situation like that happens again, when is it enough?” I had to figure out if I should call it off and just get off.”
Two weeks ago, a Tracy turnover cost the Panthers a game-winning field goal in a 20-17 loss to the Giants. This time, Tracy sat on the bench for a while until head coach Brian Daboll reinstated him into the game.
“This is something we have to continue to emphasize and work on,” Daboll said. “I have a lot of trust in Tracy, but you can't give the ball to the other team.”
Wan'Dale Robinson came out of the locker room with an autographed Sterling Shepard No. 17 Buccaneers jersey. Shepard has been with the Giants for the past eight years.
“It means a lot,” Robinson said of the jersey swap. “That guy, when I came in as a rookie, he took me under his wing and was like a big brother to me.”
Shepherd caught five passes for just 16 yards in his first game against his former team.
“Obviously, I've built relationships with a lot of people, so it was great to meet them and catch up,” Shepard told the Post. “My mentality going into this match was just trying to get the win. It's great to have a 'W' anywhere, but especially here for me. ”
Jermaine Elemunor missed the first series with a quadriceps injury and was replaced by Chris Hubbard.
“That's part of football,” Elemnor said. “Sometimes DBs like to play less offensive linemen. Luckily, he didn't hit my knee. I ended up with a bruise above my kneecap that was badly destroyed.”
OLB Kayvon Thibodeau missed the past five games after undergoing wrist surgery, but recorded two tackles (one for loss) and one quarterback hit. He had to log more playing time than planned after Azeez Ojulari left in the first quarter with a toe injury.
“We definitely got gassed, but we had to keep playing,” Thibodeau said. “We had to do more than we expected, but that’s the nature of the beast.”
Tim Boyle, signed to the practice squad on Tuesday, was the third quarterback.
