New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker reportedly has a sprained ACL and will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis going forward.
Breathe a sigh of relief, New York Giants fans. Your rookie cornerback isn’t seriously injured.
This past Sunday, corner DeAndre Baker left practice early with an apparent knee injury. He went for an MRI and additionally didn’t practice on Monday. However, news came out from the Giants official Twitter account Monday that Baker sprained (not tore) his ACL. Big Blue will evaluate the first-round pick out of the University of Georgia on a day-to-day basis.
Injury Update: CB DeAndre Baker underwent further evaluation this morning by #NYGiants team physician Dr. Scott Rodeo at Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Rodeo confirmed a sprain to the left knee. Baker’s status is day-to-day. pic.twitter.com/IQaBYKm8aw
— New York Giants (@Giants) August 12, 2019
Baker is slated to start at the corner spot opposite of veteran Janoris Jenkins. With Sam Beal still sidelined with hamstring issues, the Giants had rookie Corey Ballentine taking reps with the first team in place of Baker.
Through 12 games in his final year at Georgia, Baker racked up 40 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, nine passes defended, and one forced fumble. In 36 games for the Bulldogs across four seasons, Baker only allowed one touchdown. He won the Jim Thorpe Award last season, having been recognized as the top defensive back in the nation.
Baker had one tackle in the Giants’ first preseason game last Thursday against the New York Jets.
Despite it only being a day-to-day recovery process, I can’t see the Giants really throwing Baker into the remaining preseason games too much, if at all. Their best bet is to rest him for their regular season Week 1 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
But then again, Baker is just a rookie. If they feel he’ll be good to go for the remaining exhibition games, they may want him to get more game experience prior to the regular season. It would still be a risk, however.
