The New York Giants opened Patriots week with an injury update that immediately raised eyebrows inside the building.
What should’ve been a routine first report instead delivered a potential setback involving one of New York’s most important players. And that is while also exposing just how banged up this roster remains heading into Monday night.
With a returning quarterback, a bruised defense, and one star whose status now hangs in the balance, the tone of this matchup shifted before the Giants even set foot on the practice field.
Giants Injury Report of Patriots Week (1st report)
Source: Pat Leonard
Cleared
- QB Jaxson Dart
Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has finally cleared concussion protocol, ending a two-week stretch of uncertainty that began when he was knocked out of the Giants’ Week 10 loss to the Bears on November 9.
He remained in the league’s five-step process longer than expected and even drew added scrutiny because the team had previously been fined for a procedural issue during one of his earlier evaluations. His clearance now puts him on track to start Monday night against Mike Vrabel’s Patriots.
Did Not Participate
- LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (Neck/Knee)
- DL Dexter Lawrence (Elbow)
- OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Shoulder)
Dexter Lawrence’s continued projection as a non-participant is the biggest concern. Pat Leonard reports he is once again expected to miss practice, putting his availability for Monday firmly in jeopardy. Thibodeaux’s absence is also notable, as the pass-rush depth craters if both he and Lawrence are compromised.
Limited Participants
- CB Paulson Adebo (Knee)
- CB Deonte Banks (Hip)
- CB Korie Black (Bicep)
- DL D.J. Davidson (Knee)
- S Tyler Nubin (Neck)
- WR Wan’Dale Robinson (Ankle)
- WR Darius Slayton (Hamstring)
New York’s secondary is limping through the start of the week, with three cornerbacks and a starting safety all limited. That could force schematic adjustments against a Patriots offense that thrives on exploiting defensive spacing. Meanwhile, Robinson and Slayton remaining limited continues a nagging pattern for a wide-receiver room that has struggled to stay healthy.
Key Takeaways
The Giants’ run defense goes from sturdy to shaky the moment he’s off the field. Last season, New York allowed nearly a yard more per rush when Lawrence wasn’t on the field. That’s the kind of drop-off that flips game scripts. If he doesn’t suit up on Monday, the Patriots will test the interior early and often, and the Giants will have to compensate with heavier boxes and quicker rotations.
Jaxson Dart’s return stabilizes the offense, but raises expectations
Clearing concussion protocol means he has no excuses now. The Giants need a rhythm; they need accuracy. And they need someone who can actually push the ball downfield. His availability also opens up the full playbook again, especially the RPO and movement-based concepts that were shelved last week.
The secondary’s injury pileup is a genuine red flag
Three cornerbacks and a starting safety being limited this early in the week forces the Giants’ staff to plan for contingencies. If even one of those defensive backs suffers a setback, New York risks entering Monday night with backups who’ve barely repped with the starters. That often leads to coverage busts and miscommunication. The exact issues that cost them a game earlier this month.
Kayvon Thibodeaux’s want cannot fly under the radar
If he doesn’t ramp up this week, the Giants might enter the matchup with their top pass rusher at less than full strength. That compromises the entire pressure philosophy. The Giants rely on Thibodeaux to win matchups without help; if he’s limited, New York is forced to blitz more, and that puts additional strain on an already injured secondary.
The wide receiver room continues to flirt with instability
Wan’Dale Robinson’s ankle and Darius Slayton’s hamstring issues have lingered longer than the team would like. If either player suffers a mid-week setback, the passing game shrinks. Slayton’s speed is their spacing mechanism, and Robinson is their chain-mover.
This is already shaping up to be a coaching test for the Giants’ interim HC Mike Kafka. Managing snaps, compensating for possible defensive-line losses, rewriting coverage plans on the fly, and ensuring Dart is protected. It’s a heavy load. The Giants’ margin for error was thin already, and this report makes it thinner.