Next man up
Dart wasn’t the only player to suffer an injury against the Rams. Towards the end of the first quarter, wide receiver Malik Nabers briefly left the game due to a shoulder injury. However, the star wideout was able to return to the field and finish the game, and told reporters on Thursday he’s “feeling good.”
The other two key injuries occurred late in the game. Outside linebacker Brian Burns had his ankle rolled up on in the fourth quarter. The veteran was helped off the field and listed as questionable to return, although he did not step back on the field. Harbaugh described the veteran edge rusher as day-to-day earlier in the week. He did not participate in any of the team’s three practices this week and was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.
“We are definitely blessed with depth at that position for sure,” the head coach said about the team’s outside linebackers. “So, Brian’s day-to-day right now, we’ll see how it goes for the game. But if he can’t go, then we are very confident, to your point, in the guys that we have.”
Starting left tackle Andrew Thomas also left the game late and was unable to return after suffering a groin injury in Los Angeles. Thomas was projected as a limited participant in Wednesday’s walkthrough practice, but then did not practice on Thursday. His status for Week 3 remains up in the air. The left tackle returned to practice Friday and was not listed on the final injury report.
Holland ‘playing at a high level’
One of the biggest bright spots for the Giants to start the season has been Holland. The veteran safety, now in his second season with the team, has been all over the place for the Giants defense. He has 10 total tackles (seven solo) thus far, along with three takeaways, including a league-high two interceptions. He registered an interception of Dak Prescott in the season opener, and followed that up with an interception of Matthew Stafford, along with a forced fumble on Kyren Williams, which he recovered himself. Holland had a second forced fumble against the Rams, as well.
“He’s playing at a high level,” Harbaugh said earlier this week. “I mean, that play that he had where he punched the ball out and then recovered it, that’s about as good as a play as you’re ever going to see. He comes up with two turnovers in the game, had a turnover last week. And yet, he’s upset, talking to him about the play or two that he wants back. Just played at a super high level. He’s kind of expected it. That’s who he hoped he – that’s who I knew he was, really. And he’s playing great football.”
“He’s a great football player,” defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson added. “He is a player that I admired coming out. He’s a player I admired before he came here to the Giants. He’s a player that does all the little things correct. Jevon is making the plays he’s supposed to make because he’s in position. He’s being where he’s supposed to be and then once the ball is in the air, he’s reacting violently to it. If they run it, he’s reacting violently to the runs. So, you see in the work ethic that he’s put in, you see in the things that he’s worked on throughout this offseason, throughout the practice weeks, it’s just coming to fruition. And I hope he continues to get better and he’s an example of when you do all the little things correctly, good things happen to you.”
