To add to Big Blue’s early season woes, two starters have been ruled out of Sunday’s must-win clash with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The New York Giants have been handed an early injury setback ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Running back Paul Perkins and center Weston Richburg have both been ruled out due to respective injuries the pair sustained in the team’s 25-23 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4.
The absence of both promises to raise questions regarding how the Giants will look to address their obvious position dilemmas.
Losing Richburg, who was forced to exit the game against the Buccaneers with a concussion, marks a crushing blow to a still shaky offensive line.
With the 26-year-old out, Brett Jones looks set to slot in as his replacement. It remains to be seen, though, how the Giants will set up elsewhere on the offensive line with guard D.J. Fluker having come under fire for his performance against Tampa Bay and John Jerry being ruled as questionable.
In comparison to the inevitable concern surrounding Richburg’s unavailability, there is room for a slightly more positive take on the injury to Perkins.
The second-year UCLA product, who is suffering from a rib injury, has endured a disappointing start to the season as the starting running back in New York.
Having recorded just 61 rushing yards so far this season, Perkins has already seen the gap close between himself and backup Orleans Darkwa.
The same goes for rookie Wayne Gallman, who had 11 carries for 42 yards and caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning in his Giants’ debut last week.
He now looks in position to experience an early taste of the prominent role fans have been demanding in response to Big Blue’s toothless running game.
Besides Jerry, Olivier Vernon, Jason Pierre-Paul and Avery Moss all remain questionable.