The New York Giants offensive line is reeling from the loss of All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas and now, as they head to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers and sack master T.J. Watt, could be without their right tackle, Jermaine Eluemunor, as well.
The free-agent lineman, who has played every offensive snap for the Giants this season, missed Friday’s workout with a hip injury and could possibly miss the game.
Eluemunor isn’t going down that easy. He told reporters on Friday that he would be “ready to go” come Monday night and that he was ‘”just sore.”
“Hell no,” the veteran lineman said when asked if would miss the game, per NJ Advanced Media.
Eluemunor would be the player that will see Watt the most in the game as he primarily lines up over the right tackle. If he can’t play, that responsibility will fall to former first-round pick Evan Neal.
Neal has not played a live snap in a game since Week 9 of last season. He injured his ankle and has been brought along slowly. He claims he will be ready when his number is called.
“My hunger never went anywhere,” Neal told the New York Post, tapping his chest with a closed fist. “But I understand that I can’t control a lot of my situation right now — I can’t sub myself into the game. I’m just ready. I’m not going to be too antsy. I’m not going to get in my head about it too much. If called upon, I’ll be ready.”
If Neal has to step in, the Giants claim they are confident in his ability.
“I’m confident in Evan,” Mike Kafka, the Giants’ assistant head coach and offensive coordinator told reporters on Friday. “Each day he’s continued to get a little bit better each day. I think that’s what we’re looking for, just consistent improvement, whether it’s his feet, his set, staying square, the punch, the finish, downfield with the run block and stuff. All of it, just like core fundamentals that we talk about.”
Neal will need all of those tools — and more — to fend off Watt and company but it doesn’t look like Eluemunor is ready to step aside.
