Leonard Williams was sporting a big, detachable black brace on his proper knee when the media entered the Giants’ locker room after Sunday’s sport. And his demeanor instructed comprehensible concern a couple of potential analysis.
“I can’t talk about it, guys,” Williams stated, attempting to go off damage questions. “So don’t ask me about it.”
Williams left Sunday’s win with 8:09 remaining within the third quarter after Panthers proper sort out Taylor Moton inadvertently rolled up on Williams’ proper leg. The Giants’ defensive sort out stayed down on the turf for a number of minutes earlier than limping to the locker room and being dominated out.
He can have an MRI on Monday to find out the complete extent of the harm. There was some preliminary inside optimism in regards to the severity, however nobody may say for positive till Monday’s outcomes got here again.
It’s nonetheless conceivable Williams will miss significant time even when the damage isn’t season-ending, although he’s recognized for enjoying via ache.
Postgame, Williams politely agreed to reply soccer questions as a substitute. He stated the Giants “kept our humility” after their season-opening win in Tennessee and stayed grounded to beat Carolina for a 2-0 begin.
But when a Giants public relations worker requested Williams to place a shirt on for the cameras, the Giants’ defensive sort out pleaded for some understanding.
“Can you give me a break?” he stated, sounding emotionally drained.
Giants receiver Sterling Shepard then tried to finish the interview, saying Williams shouldn’t have to speak as a result of he’s injured. And at that time, Giants P.R. abruptly lower off the dialog.
The Giants’ protection held the Panthers to solely 145 yards passing and 16 factors on Sunday, together with solely three Carolina factors after Williams left the sport.
Christian McCaffrey did bust out for a 49-yard run to arrange that Panthers area purpose within the fourth quarter, although.
So Don Martindale’s protection held on with out Williams on Sunday, nevertheless it could possibly be a tall activity to win with out the staff’s highest-paid participant in future weeks.
GOLLADAY GOES ON ICE
Veteran large receiver Kenny Golladay shockingly performed solely two of the Giants’ 70 offensive snaps on Sunday.
Both snaps got here within the pink zone on 2nd and 10 downs from the Carolina 18 and 16-yard traces, respectively. Golladay wasn’t within the locker room after the sport when the media entered, both.
He nonetheless had the identical quantity of whole yards as Kadarius Toney, who made two catches for zero yards on 26 snaps (up from seven snaps in Week 1). But Golladay’s lack of utilization was eye-opening.
“It’s a continual competition at receiver,” Daboll stated. “At that position, we’re going to … play the guys that week that we think would give us the best chance. And the other guys got to be ready as backups.”
Daboll stated Golladay dealt with his benching “like a pro.”
“I told him during the week that we were going to go with [David] Sills,” Daboll stated. “He acted like a pro. I said, ‘Be ready to go.’ Now, does that mean it’s going to be that next week? No. We’re just evaluating all those guys on a game-by-game basis.”
Golladay has a base wage of $13 million for the 2022 season, and he had performed 46 of 60 snaps (77%) within the Giants’ Week 1 win in Tennessee, making two catches for 22 yards.
Daniel Jones stated of Golladay: “I’ve got great relationships with all the guys, certainly Kenny. I’ve got a lot of trust and faith in him. He’s a hardworking guy. He’s a pro. He knows what to do. So he’ll be back at it, and he’ll be big-time for us.”
BELLINGER SAVORS FIRST TD
Rookie tight finish Daniel Bellinger was requested what he’ll do with the ball from his first NFL landing catch.
“Not sure yet, but I’m holding it tight tonight,” Bellinger beamed.
The rookie from San Diego State scored the Giants’ solely TD of Sunday’s sport: a 16-yard catch and run with 9:19 to play within the third quarter.
Bellinger reached throughout the purpose line close to the left pylon as Panthers security Jeremy Chinn made a diving hit. The landing evened the sport at 13 apiece, emphatically answering Carolina’s go-ahead TD drive simply prior.
“Unreal. Pivotal moment in the game,” Bellinger stated. “I knew it was important, and it was a lot of fun. Maybe I shouldn’t have stretched the ball, but you gotta do what you gotta do to get some points.”
Strangely, no official raised his arms to sign landing when Bellinger crossed the purpose line at first. Bellinger admitted he was confused himself. But the Giants obtained six factors, so it labored out.
GANO GOES WILD
Kicker Graham Gano hit 4 area objectives Sunday, together with a 56-yarder for the profitable factors with 3:38 to play.
Gano unforgettably beat the Giants as a Carolina Panther with a 63-yard area purpose on the buzzer in 2018. Then his profession almost ended when the Panthers staff docs misdiagnosed a leg damage that in the end price Ganothe total 2019 season.
So all of it got here full circle Sunday.
“There were moments where I didn’t know if I was ever gonna play again,” Gano stated at his locker. “So I’m thankful to be here. I think we’re building something special with this squad, and I’m trying to help us win games. I’m thankful for it. Thankful for the time I had down there [in Carolina], but glad I’m a New York Giant.”
BLUE NOTES
The Giants received the turnover battle 2-0 Sunday. They didn’t flip the ball over on offense, and their protection and particular groups every compelled and recovered a fumble. Rookie Dane Belton recovered Chuba Hubbard’s opening kickoff fumble, compelled by linebacker Carter Coughlin, on the Panthers’ 22-yard line. And Adoree Jackson recovered Robbie Anderson’s fumble, compelled by Darnay Holmes, at Carolina’s 40. Coughlin put his helmet on the ball to knock it free after rookie linebacker Micah McFadden had tripped Hubbard and prompted him to stumble. Coughlin stated his hit is one thing the Giants follow: “the stumblebum drill.” He stated ball-carriers’ elbows come out after they’re stumbling towards the bottom, and that’s when the ball is most weak … Running again Gary Brightwell had an enormous 14-yard run on third and 1 from the fullback place within the fourth quarter. His first and solely carry of the season helped arrange Gano’s game-winning kick … Running again Antonio Williams performed 12 particular groups snaps in his Giants debut after a Week 1 scratch … Wide receiver Darius Slayton performed 4 snaps after being inactive in Tennessee.
THIBODEAUX PLAYS IT SAFE
Rookie edge Kayvon Thibodeaux (sprained proper MCL), the Giants’ No. 5 general decide this spring, sat out a second straight sport to open the season. He’d stated he was optimistic about his possibilities in the course of the week, so it’s potential he may make his NFL debut on Monday Night Football towards the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. Edge Azeez Ojulari (calf) missed a second straight sport, too. Rookie WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), beginning nook Aaron Robinson (appendix), S Jason Pinnock (shoulder), CB Nick McCloud (hammy) and OT Tyre Phillips had been Sunday’s different inactives.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com