The New York Giants may have picked up a victory against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, but they saw a new wave of injuries decimate their roster.
Among those injured were quarterbacks Daniel Jones, who suffered a sprained ankle, and Tyrod Taylor, who exited with a concussion.
After Taylor was knocked out of the game, the Giants were in such dire need at quarterback that Saquon Barkley briefly took over before Jones was forced back in under center.
“(Jones) wanted to go in,” head coach Brian Daboll said after the game. “I said, ‘You’re not going into the game. I see you’re limping. I’m not risking you getting injured to try to protect yourself with that limp. But if we need you, can you go back in the game?’ He said, ‘Yeah. I can go in the game now.’
“I said, ‘Tyrod’s going in the game, and if we need you, hopefully it’ll be just to hand the ball off.’ So, when Tyrod went down, I looked over to (quarterbacks coach) Shea (Tierney) and said, ‘Is he good to go?’ He said, ‘Yup.'”
With two injured quarterbacks, the Giants managed to win without throwing the ball the rest of the game.
“I feel good. I feel good. A little sore but all good. Listen to the trainers and doctors and go from there but feeling good,” Jones said, admitting there was pain when he returned to the game. “It hurt. Didn’t feel like I could move quite the same.”
In addition to Jones and Taylor, the Giants also saw injuries to right tackle Evan Neal, safety Julian Love, guard Mark Glowinski, wide receiver Kenny Golladay, cornerback Aaron Robinson, defensive lineman defensive lineman Henry Mondeaux and edge rushers Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari.
Are we missing any?
The exact severity of each injury remains unclear but at least a few of them (Robinson, Mondeaux) appeared destined to miss some time. The same is likely true for Jones and Taylor. The good news is that Thibodeaux said he merely had a back spasm and would be fine.
Love also said he would “return soon,” but that promise was vague and also sounded like he could miss some time.
Although the Giants are 3-1 on the season and that’s worth celebrating, they once again appear to be well on their way toward leading the league in injuries — a distinction they own since 2009.
