When the New York Giants take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in the season opener, they may be without one of their best defensive players, Olivier Vernon.
We’re less than 72 hours away from the New York Giants season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
The Giants will have a walk-through on Friday as they go over their final preparations for Sunday’s game. Those final preparations are likely not to include their best pass rusher Olivier Vernon who has still been unable to practice due to a high-ankle sprain.
Vernon was carted off the field halfway through the Giants practice on Aug. 26 after getting his ankle tangled up and hasn’t been able to practice since.
Olivier Vernon (ankle) again misses practice. Tick, tock. Not looking great for Sunday.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) September 6, 2018
Often, high-ankle sprains can take up to six weeks to heal. Based on the normal recovery time and the fact that he’s been unable to practice, it looks unlikely that Vernon will play on Sunday.
If Vernon is unable to play, either rookie Lorenzo Carter or veteran Connor Barwin will take his place.
Carter appeared on the Giants injury report today with an illness, and Barwin has missed most the preseason and training camp due to a knee injury. But Barwin has been able to practice fully this week and said he’s ready to play on Sunday.
“Yeah, I’m ready to go. My body feels good. It’s funny when people talk about Lorenzo and me, I’m obviously closer to the end of my career and he’s right at the beginning of his, but the majority of my career I’ve played maybe 90% of the snaps for every season, so I’m used to getting a lot of snaps. However things unfold here, whatever they ask me to do, I’m confident I’ll be able to do it, whether it’s all those snaps like I’ve done in the past, or a little bit less.”
Rookie OLB Lorenzo Carter a new addition on the injury report with an illness. Giants could use a full-strength Carter with Olivier Vernon dealing with a high ankle sprain.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) September 6, 2018
The Giants will need as many healthy pass rushers as they can on Sunday as last season the Jaguars only allowed 24 sacks.
