The New York Giants’ miserable 2024 campaign worsened on Friday after the team announced that injuries to Pro Bowl defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence and rookie tight end Theo Johnson would likely be season-ending.
Lawrence left the Giants’ 27-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday in the third quarter with a dislocated elbow.
Johnson, who has seen his usage increase lately, appeared to suffer a foot injury late in the game and was upset in the locker room after the game.
Lawrence, at one point this season, led the NFL in sacks (9) but hasn’t recorded one since Week 8.
Johnson, a fourth-round pick out of Penn State this past April, has played in all 12 games, starting 11. He has 29 receptions for 331 yards and a touchdown on 43 targets.
Head coach Brian Daboll said on Friday that he wasn’t very “optimistic” about Lawrence playing again this season.
“I would say that I anticipate it being a long-term injury, the rest of the season,” Daboll said on Friday. “Still going to have to take a look at a few different things, but not very optimistic about it.”
Lawrence injured the elbow in a collision with linebacker Bobby Okereke.
“I overextended and Bobby came crashing down and it popped out of place,” Lawrence said. “I looked at him and said, ‘You just popped my elbow out of place.’ And then I thought, ‘I wonder if this is what shock feels like.'”
Daboll also said Johnson’s injury was likely long-term, even season-ending.
“We are going to get a few more tests, but I definitely think there’s a potential of that,” Daboll said.
Not much has gone right for the Giants, who sit with the NFL’s worst record at the moment (2-10).
They have five games remaining. They play New Orleans and Baltimore at home followed by a trip to Atlanta and a home game versus Indianapolis before finishing the season down in Philadelphia against old friend Saquon Barkley.
