New York Giants place Dexter Lawrence, Theo Johnson on IR

As expected, the New York Giants have placed defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and tight end Theo Johnson on injured reserve following the season-ending injuries both suffered on Thanksgiving Day against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Giants filled one of the two spots on the 53-man roster by signing defensive tackle Cory Durden off the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad, where he had spent the entire season. Durden, 6-foot-4 and 316 pounds, joined the Rams as an undrafted rookie from North Carolina State in 2023. He was credited with three tackles in four games last year.

“I mean, we just keep trucking forward,” Thibodeaux said. “I think it’s you lose any player. When the team lost me, you kind of keep pushing forward. When the defense loses guys, the offense loses guys, we just got to continue to individually get better and understand that somebody has to fill that void in the leadership role and from the scheme.”

Linebacker Micah McFadden knows how much the Giants, who have the league’s worst run defensive even with Lawrence, will miss him.

“Obviously he’s our rock in the middle there. Not only on the field, but he’s our captain and our leader off the field.,” McFadden said. “He’s a voice within our locker room and especially on the defensive side of the ball. It’s a big blow to us. But it’s difficult when you don’t have that caliber of a player on the field. He’s always doing his job and he’s going to make sure that A-gap is closed every time he’s in there.”