Notebook: Injuries create ‘great opportunity’ for Giants’ young defenders

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants’ defense that lines up Sunday against the New Orleans Saints could bear only a faint resemblance to the unit that played last week in Dallas.

Defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, the team’s sack leader, dislocated his elbow in the third quarter of the loss to the Cowboys and is on injured reserve. He will next play in 2025. Inside linebacker Bobby Okereke, who leads the team in tackles,has a back injury, and defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Rocheshas neck and shoulder issues. Neither has practiced this week.Two reserve defensive linemen, D.J. Davidson (shoulder) and Jordon Riley (knee), were limited in practice.

Losing just one of the starters would be a big blow to the defense. But losing three could be dire. Several new and untested players will see action against a Saints offense that ranks in the top 15 in the NFL in most major statistical categories.

“It’s kind of a revolving door a little bit right now,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said today. “Different spots, different pieces. Defensive line will sort out through the week where were at. But great opportunity for these younger guys who’ve been here at practice, who’ve worked on the show team at times throughout the year. So, you’re going to have to go out there and play.”

Okereke has been a vital pillar in the middle of the Giants’ defense. He played all 1,128 defensive snaps and totaled a team-high 149 tackles in his first season with the team in 2023. This season, Okereke again leads the team, with 93 stops, and has missed only 20 snaps.

“I think he’s been good,” Bowen said. “He’s been solid for us. Leader. Runs the show for us. Gets guys lined up. Makes plays when they’re there for us. He’s done a good job lately here attacking the football.”

One of Okereke’s great attributes is his dependability. He rarely takes a play off in practice.

“It’s definitely a little strange without Bobby out there,” said Micah McFadden, the Giants’ other starting inside linebacker.”I’ve missed games and he’s been out there without me, but I’ve never been out there when he hasn’t been out there. Definitely a little different. I feel bad. Praying for a speedy recovery for him. But it’s an opportunity for other guys to step up and get some reps, get some experience.”

Rookie Darius Muasau, who has started two of the 10 games in which he played, would line up next to McFadden if Okereke is unable to play. It’s uncertain who will wear the green dot, which identifies the player who receives the calls from Bowen and calls them in the huddle.

“If Bobby can’t go, I feel comfortable with both of them,” Bowen said. “They both have had to be able to do it. They both battled injuries throughout the year. So, they’ve always been kind of the next guy, whether it was Darius out and Micah was the next guy that would have to take that role. Or Darius has been out throughout the season and Micah would have to take that role. So, I feel comfortable with both those guys.”

Bowen is dealing with a more unsettled situation up front. The status of Nunez-Roches and Davidson will be updated tomorrow. If they can’t play, the Giants will be without their top three interior linemen. That would leave second-year pro Riley (who played a season-high 31 snaps last week) and Chatman (an undrafted rookie who has played in all 12 games) as the likely starters.

Behind them, the Giants have Cory Durden, who was signed this week off the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad. They can elevate or sign Casey Rogers or Elijah Garcia from their practice squad.

“It’s a blessing,” Chatman said of his opportunity. “I feel like I’m ready. I feel like coach Dre (defensive line coach Andre Patterson) has done his best to prepare me and the other players to do our best in the game.

Chatman has 10 tackles (six solo) and 1.0 sack.

“I’m kind of like a perfectionist, so I’m hard on myself,” he said. “I don’t feel like I’ve done good enough, but I feel like I can and I will make up for that.”

Bowen isn’t prepared to declare anyone out, reveal who will start, or say how much any of his linemen will play. Lawrence isout. Beyond that, the composition of the Giants’ defensive line for Sunday is a work in progress.

“I think all of them are in play right now, to be honest with you,” Bowen said. “So, we’ll kind of see where this thing goes as the week goes with D.J., with Nacho (Nuñez-Roches). Obviously,Chat (Chatman) has been up, Jordon has been up. You got Casey Rogers. You got Garcia. Then we just signed Cory from the Rams. I think all those guys are in play right now. We’ll kind of see where we’re at these next few days.”

The only certainty is the Giants’ defense will be different when the Saints come marching into MetLife Stadium.

“I feel terrible for (Okereke and Lawrence), that they can’t be out there with us,” McFadden said. “It’s going to take everybody to step up and make plays. It’s about communication, about getting lined up, and then at the end of the day it’s execution, doing our job, putting ourselves in the best position to make plays. We have to try to fill some of that void in some way.

“I’m excited for the opportunity for the guys who are going to play and obviously feel terrible for the guys who can’t. But there’s a part of you that’s excited for a guy like Elijah Chatman or for Darius to go in and show what they can do.”

Both of them have very large shoes to fill.

*In addition to Okereke and Nunez-Roches, cornerback Deonte Banks (rib) continues to miss practice. Banks did not play in Dallas.

*Rookie Malik Nabers, the team’s leading receiver, was added to the injury report with a groin and was limited in practice.

Also limited were tackles Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) and Evan Neal (hip), and safeties Tyler Nubin (knee) and Dane Belton(hip). Asked who will play tackle against New Orleans, coach Brian Daboll said the Giants “got a couple more days to figure that out.”

*Quarterback Tommy DeVito practiced fully, and Daboll said DeVito should be the No. 2 quarterback behind Drew Lock on Sunday.