Misfortune continues to plague the New York Giants in their downward spiral this season. The floundering G-Men not only dropped their seventh straight game in a 27-20 Thanksgiving Day defeat to the rival Dallas Cowboys, but also lost their most dominant defensive force to a gruesome injury.
All-Pro defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, the Giants’ sack leader with nine QB takedowns on the year, suffered a dislocated left elbow in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. The 6’4″, 342-pound behemoth knew instantly that the damage was severe.
“I think I just dislocated my elbow!” Lawrence reportedly told linebacker Bobby Okereke immediately after the play.
Team trainers popped the joint back into place on the sideline before Lawrence headed to the locker room for further evaluation. The stalwart defender watched the remainder of the game with his elbow heavily wrapped and in a sling.
Devastating Injury Compounds Giants’ Woes
Losing Lawrence for any significant stretch would be a crippling blow to a Giants defense already shouldering a heavy burden during the team’s freefall in the standings. The fourth-year pro has emerged as Big Blue’s most disruptive force, consistently generating pressure and commanding double teams.
While Lawrence expressed uncertainty about a timeline for his return, he is slated to undergo an MRI in the coming days to ascertain the full extent of the damage. Giants faithful are holding their collective breath, realizing that their fading playoff aspirations become even dimmer without No. 97 anchoring the trenches.
Offensive Struggles Persist Despite QB Shuffle
As if the defense losing its centerpiece wasn’t dispiriting enough, the Giants’ offense continued to sputter and stall under the direction of journeyman backup QB Drew Lock. Filling in for injured starter Tommy DeVito, Lock went 21 of 32 for a ho-hum 178 yards and was culpable for two costly turnovers that directly yielded 10 Dallas points.
Despite Lock leading the Giants with 57 rushing yards, head coach Brian Daboll didn’t mince words when assessing his signal-caller’s miscues.
“Thought Drew did some good stuff and then two big turnovers…Can’t have those turnovers.”
– Giants HC Brian Daboll on Drew Lock’s performance vs Cowboys
Reading between the lines, it appears Daboll is leaning toward reinserting DeVito into the starting lineup when healthy. However, he stopped short of naming a definitive starter for next week’s tilt against the New Orleans Saints.
Musical Chairs Under Center Underscores Offensive Woes
The uncertainty at the game’s most important position only underscores the precarious state of the Giants’ crumbling campaign. DeVito, Lock, and the now-departed Daniel Jones have all taken turns leading the huddle over the past three games, to little avail.
- Daniel Jones: Benched 11 days ago, subsequently released
- Tommy DeVito: Injured his forearm in 1st start, missed Thanksgiving game
- Drew Lock: Shaky debut vs Cowboys with costly turnovers
DeVito told reporters post-game that he expects to be back under center soon, asserting he would have played against Dallas if the contest fell on a Sunday. His replacement didn’t fare much better though, as Lock was harassed all afternoon to the tune of 14 QB hits and 6 sacks.
“If it was a Sunday I think I would’ve been able to play.”
– Giants QB Tommy DeVito on status of injured forearm
With their season circling the drain, the Giants must rapidly figure out their signal-caller situation to have any prayer of salvaging respectability down the stretch. But no matter who is at the offensive controls, the loss of Lawrence looms as potentially the final nail in the coffin for a once-promising season that has run completely off the rails.
