The New York Giants have Saturday off before returning to the field on Sunday. It will likely be a shorts-and-shell practice, but the squad could return without at least two injured players.
As reported yesterday and since confirmed by a source, quarterback Drew Lock will miss some practice due to a hip contusion and oblique abdominal muscle strain. The NFL Network reported that Lock will not require surgery, but since he may miss the upcoming week, including Saturday’s preseason game at Houston, the Giants will need to use another quarterback while Lock recovers.
Names still available include Matt Barkley, Nathan Peterman and Jacob Eason, all of whom have been exposed to head coach Brian Daboll’s offensive system either during his time as offensive coordinator for the Bills or with the Giants.
In other injury news, ESPN reported that linebacker Dyonte Johnson, who had a strong training camp and preseason performance, is suffering from an ankle problem from week to week suffered in Thursday’s win over the Detroit Lions. It’s unclear how long Johnson will be out due to the unfortunate injury, but it’s a major blow for the former Toledo star, who had pushed hard for a key role in the Giants’ defense.
The other injury to keep an eye on this week is the shoulder injury that center John Michael Schmitz is dealing with. Schmitz hasn’t practiced in over a week and a half as he’s dealing with a “different” issue in the same shoulder that cost him three games last year, according to head coach Brian Daboll.
The Giants had used Greg Van Roten as center during practice, but against the Lions, Austin Schlottman was chosen and held his own on offense and against the Lions’ defense.
Daboll said Schmitz is on duty day to day, but unless he’s doing heavy resistance work inside the building, he hasn’t been seen at practice pushing heavy carts or doing the upper-body strength exercises typical of his position.
