Giants Make Big Decision On Dexter Lawrence For Remainder Of Season

New York Giants All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence and rookie tight end Theo Johnson have both been placed on the injured reserve list, effectively ending their 2024 seasons, per NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

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By placing Lawrence on the IR, the team is all but confirming that his season is over. The nose tackle is eligible to return after four games, which would run out the clock by the time Week 18 comes around.

The move follows a dislocated left elbow that Lawrence sustained during the team’s Thanksgiving Day loss to Dallas. The player later revealed that he dislocated his left elbow during the 27-20 loss to the Cowboys, saying, “I overextended, and [linebacker] Bobby [Okereke] came crashing down and it popped out of place. I looked at him and said, ‘You just popped my elbow out of place.’ And then I thought, ‘I wonder if this is what shock feels like.'”

Lawrence’s absence leaves a substantial gap in the Giants’ defensive front. At 340 pounds, the two-time Pro Bowler has been a dominant force, leading the team with a career-high 9.0 sacks and 16 quarterback hits. As a three-time team captain, Lawrence has also been the vocal leader and emotional core of the defense, making his loss both physically and symbolically significant for the Giants.

“I think, the reality of it is we’re going to miss him,” said Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux. “But this is going to be a great test and a great evaluation on everybody around him, the back end, the front end. We kind of joked about it as, ‘Dex can’t be the crutch. Dex can’t be our excuse on why we’re playing well or why we’re not playing well.’ We all kind of got to each step up to the plate, knowing that one of our top guys isn’t there anymore. As far as leadership goes, it’s up to us in the front end and the back end to continue to step up, where he’s now missing.”

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Lawrence was one of three defensive linemen to suffer injuries in the Thanksgiving game. Rakeem Nunez-Roches experienced a stinger in the second half, while D.J. Davidson was limited to just 10 snaps due to a shoulder injury.

Head coach Brian Daboll is expected to provide updates on their statuses during Wednesday’s press conference. The Giants were already dealing with a thin defensive line, having placed Armon Watts on injured reserve the previous week due to a shoulder issue.

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