New York Giants second-year right tackle Evan Neal reportedly fractured his ankle during the team’s November 5 game in Las Vegas against the Raiders.
The initial diagnosis was an ankle sprain, but new information this week revealed Neal had a fracture and is headed for surgery. He has not played since that game and was recently placed on injured reserve (IR).
From the New York Post:
Evan Neal’s rehab from a sprained ankle wasn’t going according to plan, and now the Giants know why.
A CT scan revealed that Neal fractured a small bone in his left ankle, a source confirmed to The Post, and that was the impetus for shutting down the former first-round draft pick by placing him on injured reserve.
Neal has had a spotty start to his NFL career since the Giants selected him seventh overall in the 2022 NFL draft. He missed four games last season due to a knee injury and only appeared in seven this year. There has been talk of shifting him inside to guard, a decision head coach Brian Daboll will save for after the season.
“Right now getting ready to play the Rams, so all that stuff will be evaluated when there is a time for it but really focused on this week,” Daboll said on Friday.
When asked what kind of a skillset he looks for to know if a player is capable of kicking inside from tackle to guard, Daboll didn’t add much.
“It’s probably a longer discussion, so again, some guys go inside, have some guys that played inside that can play outside. Some guys have played outside, they play inside. I think every player is different, every situation is different,” he said.
Neal has had issues with the speed rush, but to be frank, he hasn’t looked like the stud he was in college at Alabama. The injuries have not helped his development and the Giants have to be concerned that they could have a bust on their hands.
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