Dexter Lawrence’s season likely over as Giants misery continues
Dexter Lawrence’s best season yet is likely over.
Lawrence suffered a dislocated elbow in Thursday’s loss to the Cowboys, and the two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle probably will be shelved for “the rest of the season,” head coach Brian Daboll said.
The Giants (2-10) already are eliminated from playoff contention with five games remaining.
Rookie tight end Theo Johnson also is likely done for the season after suffering a foot injury.
Johnson got the news in the postgame locker room at AT&T Stadium and fired his shoes across the room in frustration.
“This one is probably going to be long term as well,” Daboll said.
“This one is probably going to be long term as well,” Daboll said.
Lawrence leads the Giants with a career-high nine sacks.
It is ugly to even consider what the NFL’s worst-rushing defense (5.1 yards allowed per carry) will look like without him drawing double- and triple-teams in the middle — not to mention the injuries that prevented fellow defensive tackles D.J. Davidson (shoulder) and Rakeem Nunez-Roches (stinger) from finishing the game.
Asked after the game about how he would react to a season-ending diagnosis, Lawrence said, “I’ll be hurt. Because I love going out there and fighting with my guys each and every week. That’s what brings me joy, and I hate not being able to be out there.”
The 340-pound iron man has missed just three games (one to injury) during his six-year career.
Johnson was just starting to find a groove in the back half of his rookie season.
A starter since Week 1, Johnson has 15 of his 29 catches, 181 of his 331 yards and his only touchdown over the past four games.
The fourth-round draft pick has played the fifth-most offensive snaps — behind four offensive linemen — for the Giants this season.
The Giants will turn to block-first tight end Chris Manhertz and could increase the pass-catching opportunities for de-emphasized 2022 draft pick Daniel Bellinger.
Daboll did not commit to a starting quarterback for Dec. 8 against the Saints.
It could be either Tommy DeVito (who got the first start after the Giants benched and cut Daniel Jones) or Drew Lock (who started against the Cowboys because DeVito had a forearm injury).
Daboll seems to prefer DeVito’s turnover-free play (six straight starts without an interception dating to last season) even at the risk of generating fewer big gains.
But the Giants scored 20 points for just the fourth time this season with Lock. He also threw a pick-six and lost a fumble.
“We’ll see where we’re at, we’ll see where Tommy’s at. We won’t make that decision today,” Daboll said. “We’ll evaluate the two games both of those guys played. Drew did some good things. Want to make sure we’re taking care of the ball, but I thought he gave the guys a chance downfield and made some plays [with his feet].”
Malik Nabers passed Odell Beckham Jr. for the most catches by an NFL rookie in his first 10 career games.
The Giants produced three of the top-five on the list: Nabers (75), Beckham (71 in 2014) and Saquon Barkley (64 in 2018).
