Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The New York Giants have ruled OL Evan Neal and DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches out against the Eagles, listing four others as questionable.
The New York Giants closed out their practice slate on Saturday afternoon, wrapping up their third session in four days.
Nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, who is nursing a hamstring injury, returned to the field and told reporters he intends to play on Monday afternoon against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Head coach Brian Daboll expressed similar optimism for veteran defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson.
Full injury reports for both the Giants and Eagles can be found below:
ESPN has named New York Giants NT Dexter Lawrence the NFL’s most physical defensive lineman: “Disruptive force.”
With just three weeks left in the 2023 season, ESPN recently ranked the best NFL players at 101 different skills.
New York Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence was named the NFL’s most physical defensive lineman.
With a massive 6-foot-4, 342-pound frame, Lawrence uses his physicality and play strength to create havoc on the defensive front. He’s a disruptive force who has 46 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season.
Lawrence isn’t just a dominant force on the field, he is a leader along the defensive line. His athleticism and strength allow him to blow through opposing offensive lines and reach the quarterback to disrupt whatever he’s trying to do.
He doesn’t even have to make contact to have an impact, he just needs to be on the field. Lawrence’s mere presence is enough to make other teams focus on him and maybe spare some resources for Kayvon Thibodeaux, but that’s all they can do. If they focus too many resources on those two, opposing teams leave themselves vulnerable in other areas.
Drafted by the Giants in 2019, Lawrence has remained a fixture since. He rarely misses time on the field and has racked up 259 tackles (142 solo), 21 sacks, four forced fumbles, and 10 passes defensed in his career with Big Blue.
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New York Giants NT Dexter Lawrence (hamstring) was a projected non-participant in practice on Friday and was joined by three others.
The New York Giants enjoyed an off day on Friday with their final practice scheduled for Saturday ahead of a Christmas Day game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
With most players away from team facilities, that meant little change in terms of injury status. However, the Giants still moved forward with a projected injury report.
Nose tackle Dexter Lawrence was a projected non-participant due to a hamstring issue that has plagued him for several weeks.
“He’s still working through his hamstring,” head coach Brian Daboll told reporters this week.
Even with an extra day off this week, Sexy Dexy seems unlikely to suit up on Monday afternoon against the Eagles.
The Giants’ full (projected) Friday injury report can be found below:
Did not participate: NT Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (knee), OL Evan Neal (ankle), TE Lawrence Cager (groin)
Limited participant: DT A’Shawn Robinson (back), RB Matt Breida (hamstring), LB Carter Coughlin (neck), P Jamie Gillan (groin), S Xavier McKinney (illness)
Full participant: OL Justin Pugh (calf/neck), TE Darren Waller (hamstring), RB Gary Brightwell (hamstring), OL Matt Peart (shoulder)
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The New York Giants have released their official Thursday injury report.
The New York Giants were back on the practice field Thursday ahead of a scheduled day off and were down a starter.
Kicker Randy Bullock has been placed on season-ending injured reserve (IR) with a hamstring issue. He will be replaced by fellow kicker Cade York, who is currently on the practice squad, for the remainder of the season.
Meanwhile, all eyes were on the Giants’ trio of defensive tackles — Dexter Lawrence, A’Shawn Robinson, and Rakeem Nunez-Roches, all of whom are banged up.
Lawrence and Nunez-Roches continued to sit out while Robinson was limited.
The Giants’ full Thursday injury report can be found below:
Did not participate: NT Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), S Xavier McKinney (illness) DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (knee), OL Evan Neal (ankle), TE Lawrence Cager (groin)
Limited participant: DT A’Shawn Robinson (back), RB Matt Breida (hamstring), LB Carter Coughlin (neck), P Jamie Gillan (groin)
Full participant: OL Justin Pugh (calf/neck), TE Darren Waller (hamstring), RB Gary Brightwell (hamstring), OL Matt Peart (shoulder)
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The New York Giants have signed DT Timmy Horne off of the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad and placed kicker Randy Bullock on IR.
New York Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence has been hampered by a hamstring injury in recent weeks and his status for a Christmas Day game against the Philadelphia Eagles is very much up in the air.
After missing practice on Wednesday, the Giants decided to find reinforcements behind Lawrence.
The Giants have signed defensive tackle Timmy Horne off of the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad.
The 26-year-old Horne originally signed with the Falcons as a free agent following the 2022 NFL draft. He made their 53-man roster out of training camp and appeared in all 17 games with five starts as a rookie, recording 27 tackles (13 solo), one QB hit and one pass defensed.
This season, Horne has spent his time on the practice squad but was elevated for three games, recording four tackles and one pass defensed.
The 6-foot-4, 323-pound Horne played his college ball at Charlotte before transferring to Kansas State in 2021.
In a corresponding roster move, the Giants have placed kicker Randy Bullock (hamstring) on season-ending injured reserve (IR). Cade York will handle the kicking duties in Week 16 and beyond.
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The New York Giants have designated RB Gary Brightwell and OL Matt Peart to return from injured reserve (IR).
The New York Giants returned to the practice field on Wednesday ahead of their Christmas Day game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
Their first order of business was designating running back Gary Brightwell and offensive lineman Matt Peart to return from injured reserve (IR). Both will likely be able to suit up in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“We’ll open the window for Brightwell, open the window for Peart. Both those guys,” head coach Brian Daboll said.
Meanwhile, nose tackle Dexter Lawrence missed practice as he continues to deal with a hamstring injury. He was joined by kicker Randy Bullock, who suffered a similar injury in Sunday’s 24-6 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Daboll is less than optimistic that Bullock will play on Monday, suggesting that Cade York will be elevated from the practice squad.
“He’s not great. Yeah, he’s not great, so that’s something we’ll work through here and see where he is. But I’m not expecting him to be ready,” he said of Bullock.
The Giants did not release a projected injury report with an extra day available on Saturday.
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New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale doesn’t believe there’s a ceiling for the 23-year-old Kayvon Thibodeaux.
When New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale spoke with the press after practice on Thursday, he had nothing but praise for his players. His opening statement summed up what we’ve all seen over the last few weeks.
“We were fired up, obviously, with the win last week. I thought our guys played really well. You’ve got the same guys stepping up, and others are joining them now,” he said.
Others are joining them now. Like Kayvon Thibodeaux, who continues to impress and improve on the field. When asked why he thought Thibs’ play is resulting in the production of big plays, Wink was impressed with the question.
“I think that’s a great question. We’ve talked about it before, and I’ve thought about it even more. I said that the guy has no ceiling,” Martindale stated. “You remember me saying that before? The reason why he doesn’t have a ceiling is because he doesn’t allow himself to have a ceiling. He’s in here working every day.”
Martindale also said that Thibodeaux is a leader on the team, even at the young age of 23. And with mentors like Dexter Lawrence, he’s only going to get better at his job.
Speaking of Lawrence, he’s one that’s been stepping up all season. Recently, he’s had his snap count limited, but it hasn’t lessened his impact on the field. When asked if he was surprised, Wink answered, “Nothing surprises me with Dex.”
Lawrence hasn’t been playing at 100 percent due to a hamstring injury. He isn’t a player to stay off the field, though, and that definitely sends a message to and lifts up his team.
“Sure, it does. I mean, if you and Dex were walking into someplace, wouldn’t you feel a lot more confident walking in with him than without him? That’s just who he is,” Martindale said.
Hard to disagree with that.
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The New York Giants have designated TE Darren Waller to return from injured reserve (IR) and he could play on Sunday vs. New Orleans.
The New York Giants returned to practice on Thursday — their first full practice of the week — and the first order of business was a significant one.
Just prior to taking the field, the team announced that tight end Darren Waller (hamstring) had been designated to return from injured reserve (IR). If all goes well, he could see a few snaps on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Waller indicated on Wednesday that he was close to a return but was just awaiting the green light from trainers.
In other positive news, every single player on the active roster participated on at least a limited basis for the second straight day. All have a chance to play in Week 15 — right tackle Evan Neal included.
The Giants’ full Thursday injury report can be found below:
Did not participate: N/A
Limited participant: OL Evan Neal (ankle), CB Cor’Dale Flott (shoulder), NT Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), DL A’Shawn Robinson (hamstring/finger), LB Isaiah Simmons (ankle), TE Darren Waller (hamstring)
Full participant: WR Parris Campbell (knee), LB Azeez Ojulari (shoulder)
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According to PFF, Dexter Lawrence is the highest-graded defensive player in the NFL so far this season.
Former Tigers across the NFL have been having successful seasons but no other has been as great as Dexter Lawrence has been for the New York Giants this season.
So far this season, Lawrence has totaled 44 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 4 tackles for loss as the best defensive player on the Giants. The stats are strong, but they don’t tell the full story. Not only has Lawrence been the best player on the Giants, he is the highest-graded defensive player in the entire NFL.
According to PFF, Lawrence’s 93.2 overall grade leads all NFL defenders. From a pure grading standpoint, Lawrence is the best defender in the NFL. All of this coming off a career year which earned him a huge contract extension.
It’s safe to say, the Giants are getting what they’ve paid for in Lawrence.
We have a new highest-graded defender 👀 pic.twitter.com/Uuhkk56IOO
— PFF (@PFF) December 14, 2023
Pro Bowl voters aren’t sold on New York Giants NT Dexter Lawrence, who is still outside the top-10 at his position in the NFL (and NFC).
New York Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence is the NFL’s highest-graded defender through 14 weeks and is now considered in the Aaron Donald class.
In fact, some have begun to argue that Lawrence has eclipsed Donald as the league’s best interior defender.
PFF compares Dexter Lawrence to Aaron Donald:
"The battle between Dexter Lawrence and Aaron Donald rages on.
Lawrence currently leads Donald and all other defensive interior linemen with a 92.9 grade." pic.twitter.com/twXgGGFIZE
— Gridiron Media (@Gridiron_Media_) December 13, 2023
Lawrence’s Pro Football Focus grade is actually up to 93.2 and he leads San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bos (93.1) by a hair.
Even beyond the analytics, Lawrence’s dominance is evident. You can turn on the film of any Giants game this season, pick any random defensive snap and the odds are very much in your favor that you’ll witness Sexy Dexy destroying someone. Or perhaps even multiple blockers.
Dexter Lawrence throws two Packers to the side…the guy is a maniac on the field. pic.twitter.com/7DN6qp8p0Y
— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) December 12, 2023
Despite his utter domination of everything across from him and every single metric supporting what the film shows, NFL fans aren’t sold. Not even a tiny bit.
With fan voting for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games inching closer to its deadline (December 25), Lawrence isn’t among the top vote-getters. Even worse, he’s not even among the top 10 at his position in the NFC.
“Dexter Lawrence not being in there doesn’t make any sense to me. Dex is one of the most dominant defensive players in the league. Him not being in there, you’ve got to do better Giants fans, for sure,” running back Saquon Barkley told the New York Daily News.
Similarly, Barkley is also outside the top vote-getters at his position in the NFC.
“I can get why I’m not in the top 10, missing three games, and there are a lot of backs that are playing well, and it’s the first round of it,” Barkley said.
Four Giants are in the top 10 at their position, however. And that includes a newcomer from the previous update: Special teamer Nick McCloud.
McCloud is fourth in the NFL and third in the NFC in special teams votes. Meanwhile, punter Jamie Gillan is fourth in the NFL and second in the NFC, linebacker Bobby Okereke is seventh in the NFL and second in the NFC, and edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is fifth in the NFL and third in the NFC.
Once fan voting concludes, NFL players and coaches will then cast their Pro Bowl votes, accounting for two-thirds of the total vote.
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