The New York Giants can’t afford to lose any players to injury, especially one as significant as their starting cornerback. While it isn’t official, rookie corner DeAndre Baker is the expected starter opposite Janoris Jenkins for the defense. A tenacious player with plenty of grit and talent, having Baker on the field is a must for a team with minimal depth at the cornerback position.
Behind Baker, the Giants have Sam Beal, Corey Ballentine, and Antonio Hamilton. None of which are trustworthy options and can be counted on to produce quality performances against first-team talent.
New York Giants: DeAndre Baker injury update
After a severe ACL scare, Baker walked away with a mere strain. After a hectic 24-hours full of nervousness around the fan-base, the Giants’ third first-round pick survived a potential season-ending ailment.
Just eight days later, Baker is participating in individual drills and feels good.
“I feel good,†he said Monday. “It was very important to get out there, move around again, do some individual work.â€
The Giants are counting on the Georgia product to utilize his aggressive style of play at the NFL level in 2019. He will likely be a consistent starting option, which makes preseason experience and live-action essential for his growth and adaptation to the league.
“We’re going to move him back in there,†coach Pat Shurmur said. “So yeah, it’s good to have him back out there.â€
It’s expected that Baker will return to the starting squad before the week one showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. After not allowing a single touchdown last year in college, Baker is ready to take the next step in his professional career, and that will take place against the Giants’ biggest rival, in Arlington, Texas.