New York Giants rule out running backs Saquon Barkley and Wayne Gallman, wideout Sterling Shepard and tight end Evan Engram for Thursday.
The New York Giants didn’t have a great chance to surpass the undefeated New England Patriots this Thursday to begin with. Now, those odds have shrunk even more.
Big Blue has officially ruled out running backs Saquon Barkley and Wayne Gallman, wideout Sterling Shepard, and tight end Evan Engram. Barkley is dealing with a high ankle sprain suffered in a Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccanneers. Shepard and Gallman are in the concussion protocol. Engram is dealing with a sprained MCL.
Saquon Barkley (Ankle), Sterling Shepard (Concussion), Evan Engram (Knee), and Wayne Gallman (Concussion) ruled Out for #NYGvsNE pic.twitter.com/Za9p29wuLt
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 9, 2019
There was some speculation that Barkley could possibly return on Thursday. However, the next step is to see if he’ll be healthy enough for the team’s Week 7 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
It’s unclear exactly how long Shepard, Gallman, and Engram will be out for. Since it’s Shepard’s second time this year in the concussion protocol, he’s expected to be out for a while, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
Bad news for the Giants. Sterling Shepard is back in the concussion protocol, according to a source. He showed up today and displayed symptoms to the medical staff.
This means Shepard will out a while, given this is his second concussion this season.— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) October 7, 2019
Edge rusher Lorenzo Carter has additionally been listed as questionable with a neck injury.
The Giants will have to rely on rookie undrafted running back Jon Hilliman along with Elijhaa Penny to man the rushing attack for the time being. The latter is primarily New York’s fullback. Both Hilliman and Penny combined for 12 carries for 35 yards in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Big Blue will also look for veteran wideouts Golden Tate and Cody Latimer along with rookie Darius Slayton to step up in the passing game. Rhett Ellison will take Engram’s spot as the No. 1 tight end. Each of these healthy weapons will need to provide as much support as possible for rookie quarterback Daniel Jones.
New York and New England will kick off in Foxborough, MA at 8:20 p.m. ET on Thursday Night Football.
