The New York Giants will lack any extra help in their game tomorrow, against the Carolina Panthers. Injuries ave already piled up this season and the team is missing top players across multiple positions, with Olivier Vernon, Eli Apple, and Evan Engram all recovering from injuries at this point.
Now, we know that none of those players will feature against Carolina, in week five of the season. In fact, Vernon will have not played in the regular season for five straight games, after picking up a high ankle sprain before the preseason could end. It’s been a point of contention with some fans, and will likely result in some more debates as Vernon approaches a fifth straight missed game.
Both he and Eli Apple practiced with the rest of the players earlier this week, however, and it should be a signal that their returns are not as far off as some may think. The Giants head coach, however, has different ideas about what Vernon’s progress is like.
“He was involved in team activities. Typically, a lot of these guys get cranked up in individuals. He probably looked better than you saw,” Pat Shurmur said about Vernon’s current state. Vernon isn’t the only player that’s out, however.
When Evan Engram was injured in the Houston game, we didn’t know if there would be a quick recovery time or if he would be out for a prolonged period of time. But with Engram missing his second straight game, it’s now clear that his injury is more than a minor one. No update has been given about when Engram is expected to come back.
Eli Apple is nearing a return but is being held back for now. “Gotta get back to my normal speed and I’m not there yet,” he said. It’s probably for the better. No team wants to play with a cornerback that is still somewhat injured, and unable to eep up with the other team’s receivers.
The absence of all three players won’t help the Giants’ chances against Carolina, though. Especially with two defensive starters gone, in a game where the pass rush should be one of the keys to the game for New York. However, even if progress is slow, there is progress being made for the top injured players on the team, and that’s encouraging.
Because if the Giants want to take a shot at turning things around, it will have to be at closer to full strength.