New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams missed his first NFL game with an MCL sprain on Monday night.
After starting his career in 2015 with the New York Jets, Williams has been an integral part of the Giants defense for the last two-plus seasons. His absence in Week 3 when the Giants hosted the Dallas Cowboys was painfully obvious.
Williams hasn’t filled the box score this season, recording just seven tackles (five solo) so far, but his impact on defense goes beyond his ability to tackle or break through the line.
His leadership plays a big role in how the defense functions overall, and his ability to pressure the quarterback and set the edge typically draws extra attention. Without Williams on the field, the Cowboys made things look too easy.
For instance, through the first two games of the season, Ezekiel Elliott had 105 yards and no touchdowns. Tony Pollard had just 51 yards rushing. Against the Giants, Elliott recorded 78 rushing yards and scored his first touchdown of the season. Pollard had 105 yards rushing and averaged over 8.0 yards per carry.
Also consider that the Giants had three turnovers over the first two games and none on Monday.
Williams was very clearly missed on the field this week. Watching him pace the sideline, irritation and frustration plain on his face, shows just how much he wanted to be out there. Hopefully his knee heals quickly because it’s clear that the Giants need his presence on the field.
