Tag: Leonard Williams

Giants’ Dexter Lawrence: Run defense was ‘unacceptable’ in Week 3

New York Giants NT Dexter Lawrence isn’t interested in excuses, saying the team’s run defense was flat-out “unacceptable” in Week 3.

After bottling up Derrick Henry in Week 1 and keeping Christian McCaffrey in check (save for one 49-yard run) in Week 2, the New York Giants run defense fell apart against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.

Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott combined for 178 yards and one touchdown. Perhaps more importantly, they averaged 6.81 yards per carry. That was up from the 3.49 yards per carry average the Giants had allowed over the first two weeks.

A major reason for that discrepancy likely stemmed from the absence of defensive lineman Leonard Williams. But whatever the reason, Dexter Lawrence found it “unacceptable.”

“That was unacceptable from all of us up front. They schemed us up well, got good leverage. We’ve just got to play harder and more disciplined with our techniques,” Lawrence told reporters on Wednesday. “Honestly, they were just out-leveraging us on the edge. That’s kind of what you saw on film. We’ve just got to do a better job of knocking the guys back as a unit and pressing the running back hips just to get him down. They just did a really good job scheming us and it was a good team.”

With or without Williams, the Giants have to figure things out fast. They go up against a run-heavy team in the Chicago Bears on Sunday, who are currently second in the league in rushing (560 yards).

“That’s their gameplan, that’s their scheme. Each week, you’ve got to stop the offensive schemes,” Lawrence said.

With a game against the Green Bay Packers in London looming, the Giants can ill-afford to allow the Bears to run all over them and send them overseas with a record of 2-2.

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Giants injury report: Aaron Robinson ‘trending upward’

The New York Giants held a walkthrough on Wednesday and head coach Brian Daboll says CB Aaron Robinson is “trending up.”

The New York Giants returned to the building on Wednesday following a Week 3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Given that they played on Monday night, the team held a walkthrough that was closed to the media.

Prior to practice, head coach Brian Daboll said rookie cornerback Cor’Dale Flott would be added to the injury report. He also noted that several other players, including wide receiver Kadarius Toney, would continue to be managed.

The good news? Daboll noted cornerback Aaron Robinson was “trending up.”

The Giants’ (projected) Wednesday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), CB Nick McCloud (hamstring), WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring), DL Leonard Williams (knee), CB Cor’Dale Flott (calf), WR Sterling Shepard (knee), DL Jihad Ward (knee)

Limited participant: CB Aaron Robinson (appendicitis), CB Justin Layne (concussion)

Full participant: N/A

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What we learned from Giants’ 23-16 loss to Cowboys

The New York Giants fell to the Dallas Cowboys, 23-16, in Week 3 and here’s some of what we learned from that loss.

The New York Giants fell to the Dallas Cowboys, 23-16, on Monday night at MetLife Stadium, their first loss of the season and first under new head coach Brian Daboll.

Here are some things we learned in Week 3.

Giants’ Kadarius Toney doubtful, 4 out vs. Cowboys

The New York Giants have ruled four out and listed WR Kadarius Toney and DL Leonard Williams as doubtful against the Cowboys in Week 3.

The New York Giants will likely get edge rushers Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari back on Monday against the Dallas Cowboys, but they’ll be without a few others.

As anticipated, cornerback Aaron Robinson will not play after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. He is expected to be joined by wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who missed the team’s previous two practices with a lingering hamstring injury.

Rookie wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson will also miss his second consecutive game.

Full injury reports for both the Giants and Cowboys can be found below:

Giants injury report: Kadarius Toney a projected non-participant

The New York Giants released a projected injury report on Friday and WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring) was downgraded from the day prior.

The New York Giants did not have an official practice on Friday but did release a projected injury report following the day’s meetings and walkthrough.

Nothing had changed since the day prior with one alarming exception: wide receiver Kadarius Toney was listed as a non-participant.

Toney has been dealing with a hamstring issue for several weeks and the fact that he was DNP on a projection does not bode well for his potential availability on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Giants’ (projected) Friday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: DL Leonard Williams (knee), CB Aaron Robinson (appendicitis), CB Nick McCloud (hamstring), WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), CB Justin Layne (concussion), WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring)

Limited participant: LB Kayvon Thibodeaux (knee), LB Azeez Ojulari (calf), OL Jon Feliciano (shin), S Jason Pinnock (shoulder), DB Dane Belton (clavicle)

Full participant: N/A

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Giants injury report: Kadarius Toney returns to practice

New York Giants WR Kadarius Toney returned to practice on Thursday, while Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari appear ready to go.

The New York Giants returned to the practice field on Thursday as they continue preparations for a Week 3 game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Head coach Brian Daboll says edge rushers Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari are both making strides and indicated they are likely to play on Monday night. Both players have seen an uptick in practice reps.

Ojulari declared himself good to go.

Wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who sat out of practice on Wednesday, returned on a limited basis.

Daboll also wouldn’t officially rule defensive lineman Leonard Williams out for the team’s Monday night game, although it remains unlikely that he’ll play.

The Giants’ full Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: DL Leonard Williams (knee), CB Aaron Robinson (appendicitis), CB Nick McCloud (hamstring), WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), CB Justin Layne (concussion)

Limited participant: LB Kayvon Thibodeaux (knee), LB Azeez Ojulari (calf), OL Jon Feliciano (shin), S Jason Pinnock (shoulder), WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring), DB Dane Belton (clavicle)

Full participant: N/A

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Giants’ Leonard Williams has sprained MCL, listed as day-to-day

New York Giants DL Leonard Williams suffered a sprained MCL in Week 2 and head coach Brian Daboll lists him as “day-to-day.”

Following an MRI on Monday, it’s been revealed that New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams suffered a sprained MCL in Week 2.

Leonard left a 19-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers in the third quarter and did not return.

“It’s his knee. But it’s better than it could be. So, he’s day-to-day,” head coach Brian Daboll told reporters. “He said he feels a lot better than he did yesterday. He’s walking around, so we’ll just take it like we normally do with these things each day. So, hopefully he’s a fast healer.”

“Day-to-day” is Daboll’s standard diagnosis for every injury. Similarly, rookie wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson suffered a knee injury and has been listed as “day-to-day.” He missed the team’s Week 2 game.

Edge rushers Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari have also been “day-to-day” for several weeks. There is hope that both return on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

How much time Williams actually misses remains to be seen, but there is optimism in East Rutherford that it won’t be a long-term issue. The Big Cat is also dealing with an elbow injury that caused him to miss some time during the preseason.

In Williams’ absence, expect Jihad Ward to slide into his role — especially if Thibodeaux and Ojulari return to the field.

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Andrew Thomas, Leonard Williams were highest-graded Giants in Week 2

Pro Football Focus grades are out and Andrew Thomas and Leonard Williams led the way for the New York Giants in Week 2.

The New York Giants defeated the Carolina Panthers, 19-16, in Week 2 but it wasn’t necessarily pretty. Big Blue struggled in a lot of areas, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

In particular, their offensive line appeared to take a step back. With the exception of left tackle Andrew Thomas, that is. He led the team with a 87.5 grade from Pro Football Focus.

Just behind Thomas were wide receiver Richie James (72.6), and tight ends Tanner Hudson (69.1) and Chris Myarick (66.7).

Other notable offensive grades include running back Saquon Barkley (65.9), wide receiver Sterling Shepard (59.9) and quarterback Daniel Jones (51.5).

The lowest-graded Giants on offense were offensive linemen Mark Glowinski (50.2), Jon Feliciano (39.9) and Joshua Ezeudu (22.3).

Defensively, Leonard Williams led the way with an 83.4. He was followed by cornerbacks Darnay Holmes (77.2), Fabian Moreau (69.5) and Adoree’ Jackson (67.2).

Other noteworthy defensive grades include linebacker Oshane Ximines (66.1), safety Xavier McKinney (60.0) and nose tackle Dexter Lawrence (58.3).

The lowest-graded Giants defenders were linebacker Tomon Fox (43.7), defensive lineman Justin Ellis (30.6) and linebacker Tae Crowder (30.2).

The highest-graded Giant on special teams was the aforementioned Chris Myarick, who logged an 81.2.

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Giants’ Leonard Williams confident he avoided major injury

Although he wasn’t interested in discussing it further, New York Giants DL Leonard Williams is confident he avoided a major knee injury.

The New York Giants headed into their Week 2 matchup against the Carolina Panthers still without their top two pass rushers — Azeez Ojulari and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

With those two off the field, Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence and the rest of the defensive line had to step up.

Unfortunately, the Giants’ defense took another blow when Williams left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return.

Williams, who was wearing a brace after the game, said he felt good but didn’t want to talk about it further, denying requests from reporters. Head coach Brian Daboll also offered no clarity or update in the severity of Williams’ injury.

With or without Ojulari and Thibodeaux returning in the coming weeks, Williams is a guy that the Giants can ill afford to lose. He’s a team captain and a player many consider irreplaceable.

The good news is that Dianna Russini reports that like Williams, there is some optimism inside the building that he avoided major injury.

Williams will undergo further testing on Monday and the Giants will then know the full extent of his injury. But it’s likely Daboll reverts to the company line and simply calls The Big Cat “day-to-day.”

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Giants hang on to defeat Panthers, improve to 2-0

The New York Giants improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2016, defeating the Carolina Panthers, 19-16, in Week 2.

For the second consecutive week, the New York Giants started slow offensively but made the proper adjustments at halftime. And for the second consecutive week, their defense stood strong for four quarters.

It wasn’t the most clean game but for a team that has struggled for roughly a decade, ugly wins are welcomed. And they won ugly on Sunday.

The win sends the Giants to 2-0 for the first time since 2016.