Sad News And Am Sorry…

When we last left the New York Giants before their Week 13 bye, there were questions galore facing this team for the rest of what is largely a lost and disappointing season.

As the Giants prepare to play out the string of this 2023 season, let’s check where things stand as the players return to the Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday.

Who’s Coming Back from Injury?

As expected, quarterback Tyrod Taylor has been designated for return from IR. But who else might be back on the field for the injury-stricken Giants?

One such hope is for defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence (hamstring) to return after missing his first career game due to injury. There is also hope that offensive tackle Evan Neal (ankle), who has missed five games due to ankle injuries, will be able to return and that tight end Darren Waller (hamstring) also might be good to go.

Of those three, Lawrence and Neal have the best chance of returning, while the feeling is Waller still has a little more to go.

With Taylor likely to be activated before the team’s Monday night game against the Packers, head coach Brian Daboll has a decision to make at quarterback. Does he stay with Tommy DeVito, the hot hand who has won two games in a row, albeit against two poor teams?

Or, with some steep competition still to come, including a Monday night game against the Packers and two games against the Eagles, does he switch back to the veteran with far more experience (and a better degree of success) against better defenses?

If the goal is to get back to the playoffs–and it’s hard to imagine it wouldn’t be–then Taylor makes the most sense if he’s ready. If the goal is to evaluate for the future, then DeVito will be the guy.

Expect Daboll to play this one close to the vest for as long as possible.

The coaching staff, who engaged in self-scouting, can’t make wholesale changes this late in the season. But what they can look to do is get some of their younger players more snaps to further their evaluation.

The question, though, is, will they? Technically, the 4-8 Giants are not out of the playoff hunt, as according to the latest NFL playoff picture, the Giants are 12th in the NFC. Realistically, they probably won’t be sneaking into the postseason, not with two games still to come against the Eagles and a Monday night date against the Packers still ahead.

So, will the Giants stick with their starters or look to integrate more young players into the mix? Will we see shifts in the offensive and defensive play-calling philosophies? Will there be changes to the practice schedules?

The answer could all come down to how realistic of a view the coaching staff has of its chances of finishing strong. Again, don’t expect wholesale changes to be made in terms of personnel, as the roster is what it is at this point.

The FOX Sports report from Jay Glazer regarding strife between Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has been hanging over the team’s head now since it first dropped before the Giants’ game against New England. Daboll has done his best to downplay any notion of a rift between him and the veteran defensive coordinator, but Martindale has yet to say his piece due to the schedule.

Martindale and the coordinators are scheduled to speak on Friday, and the report of strife is sure to be brought up in the questioning. Thus far, Martindale has not been afraid to speak his mind about things–he famously did so when safety Xavier McKinney created headlines when he expressed frustration that the coaches (later revealed to be Martindale specifically) weren’t hearing the players.

Martindale’s openness likely didn’t sit well with Daboll, who has done his best to squash any emerging fires by deploying humor. Will Martindale follow suit this time?