On Sunday, the New York Giants hosted the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium in their 2024 season opener. The Giants bombed the outing and the 28-6 score does not really tell the entire story.
Every Giants player is frustrated and unhappy with how that game went, but defensive back Isaiah Simmons is getting vocal after he received a grand total of zero defensive snaps.
Would Isaiah Simmons have re-signed with the #Giants100 if he knew his role would be this limited?
“I mean, nobody’s going to sign nowhere if they know they’re not going to be used… I hope they have plans to use me in the defense and that I wasn’t brought here for nothing." https://t.co/cLwNMtO9OY
— Ryan Novozinsky (@ryannovo62) September 11, 2024
Simmons was traded to the Giants ahead of the 2023 season after spending his first three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Last season, he appeared in all 17 games for the Giants, recording 50 tackles (33 solo), one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception, one touchdown and three passes defensed.
The Giants’ defense allowed a middling Sam Darnold to put up 208 passing yards and two touchdowns. Simmons is a veteran of the Giants’ youthful secondary, and his experience would have benefitted the rest of the secondary.
Simmons is right to be upset, especially as Cor’Dale Flott was playing a position he never practiced this offseason. Not to mention the significant role that Simmons appeared destined for after the arrival of defensive coordinator Shane Bowen — a role they sold him on.
The Giants travel to face the Washington Commanders this week, a team also looking for its first win after losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their own season opener. It would be a mistake to not play Simmons again this week, but the call is ultimately up to Bowen and head coach Brian Daboll.
We’ll see what changes the Giants make, if any, going forward and how that impacts Simmons’ morale.
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