Injury bug biting after just 2 games
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants are battling the injury bug after just two games, as well some other scary issues.
Wondering what might scare NFL players? For the Niners (1-1), it’s just being back at MetLife Stadium on Sunday and having to face the winless Giants (0-2) without quarterback Jimmy Garappolo, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa, halfback Raheem Mostert, defensive tackle Solomon Thomas and All-Pro tight end George Kittle.
The Giants are not scary. They are enduring yet another bad start and facing the prospect of missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years.
San Francisco’s concern is the stadium and its new artificial surface. In a 31-13 win over the Jets last weekend, the 49ers saw Garappolo sprain an ankle and Mostert, Thomas, Bosa and backup halfback Tevin Coleman leave with knee injuries. Kittle is going to miss a second straight game with a knee injury after being hurt in the season opener.
The Niners complained to the league about the “sticky” surface and now they have to play on it again. This time Nick Mullens is starting at quarterback for the first time since 2018.
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan says he has put the field issue to rest,and told his players to focus on the game. The league inspected the field Wednesday and said it meets all applicable standards and protocols for a field surface.
“I’m a big believer of controlling the controllables, doing what I can and controlling what
I can control,” 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said. “The playing surface that we’re going to play on Sunday, I have no control over that. I’m letting everybody else handle that.”
Giants coach Joe Judge has had his team work on the field since training camp opened in late July. None of his players complained about it, he said.
What Giants fans have to complain about is the team’s anemic offense, which will be without running back Saquon Barkley (knee) for the rest of the season. Wide receiver Sterling Shepard (toe) is out for at least three games.
New York is averaging 14.5 points and turned the ball over four times, with quarterback Daniel Jones throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble. The offensive line has struggled and the running game is last in the league.
The defense has been surprisingly good, allowing 43 points, only 10 in the second half.
It has left Judge looking for his first win, which is par for the course. The Giants have started 0-2 every year since 2013, with the exception being in 2016, the only year they made the playoffs.
The Other Cornerback: Free-agent signee James Bradberry gives the Giants a solid cornerback. He leads the league with six passes defended and last week rallied New York with an interception and a tip that led to another pick by Julian Love.
The other cornerback is a problem. Corey Ballentine started the first two games. He was replaced by Isaac Yiadom for the second half last week. The position is wide open and coordinator Pat Graham said Ryan Lewis and Brandon Williams are also in the mix for the job.
Evan,pleasestandup: Evan Engram looked so good in training camp many predicted this would be the breakout season for the tight end who was New York’s first-round pick in 2017.
It hasn’t happened. The oft-injured Engram had a drop on his first target this season and then was invisible for almost the next seven quarters. He woke up in the final 19 minutes against the Bears, catching six passes for 65 yards.
Will he show up Sunday?