Giants_Apple_Vernon
Bruno Rouby, ESNY Graphic, Getty Images

New York Giants outside linebacker Olivier Vernon and cornerback Eli Apple have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.

The woes keep on coming for Big Blue. Friday afternoon it was announced that New York Giants linebacker Olivier Vernon and cornerback Eli Apple are both ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Texans. The news was first reported by The Record’s Art Stapleton.

Vernon is still battling a high ankle sprain he suffered in the preseason. He has yet to play a regular season game for the Giants this year. Apple, on the other hand, is battling a groin injury that he suffered in the Giants’ 20-13 loss to the Cowboys last Sunday.

Both are a huge loss for the G-Men this Sunday, even more so considering the offensive unit they’re playing against. With the scrambling aspect and ability to extend plays that Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson possesses, OV could’ve been the guy that contains the edge and forces Watson to step up in the pocket.

With Vernon out once again, there will be that rotation of linebackers that we saw in the Giants first two games of the regular season. This rotation includes the likes of Connor Barwin, Kareem Martin, B.J. Goodson and rookie Lorenzo Carter.

In the secondary, Apple would’ve been the guy working with defensive back Janoris Jenkins to reduce this air attack. Going against receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller V, cornerbacks B.W. Webb and Donte Deayon will now have to handle the workload on Sunday.

The Giants and Texans kick off this Sunday at 1 p.m. EST at NRG Stadium in Houston. It’s unknown at this point if either Vernon or Apple will even make the trip with the team. They’ll both be evaluated next week in practice and hopefully will be back on the field as soon as possible.

Ryan Honey is a staff writer and host of the Wide Right Podcast.