Head injury slows Engram
THE GIANTS have placed rookie tight end Evan Engram in the concussion protocol as a precaution, limiting him to a non-contact practice at Wednesday’s brief jog-through. Engram was walking around normally in the locker room after practice in good spirits, but it’s still worrisome that the Giants’ first-round draft pick might be banged up this soon.
Engram, whom Jerry Reese selected 23rd overall in April, is third among Giants receivers with eight catches for 93 yards and a touchdown through two weeks. Engram has had growing pains, too. He was on the field for a 12-men penalty in Week 1 in Dallas and was penalized for grabbing his crotch during his touchdown celebration against Detroit.
But Engram’s downfield speed and size has made him one of Eli Manning’s favorite targets. Engram’s 12 targets are tied with Sterling Shepard for second, one behind running back Shane Vereen. And Engram’s seven targets against the Lions in Week 2 were a team-high.
Top corner Janoris Jenkins (ankle), meanwhile, was the only Giant not even on the field for the lightest of practices. Monday night
Jenkins missed Monday night’s loss to Detroit with an ankle injury that McAdoo said “worsened as the week went on” following the Giants’ Week 1 loss in Dallas. Jenkins was listed last week with both hand and ankle injuries, but on social media recently Jenkins clarified that he was out because of “a bad wheel.”
MLB B.J. Goodson (shin), RT Bobby Hart (ankle) and LB J.T. Thomas (groin) also did not participate. Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) and LB Keenan Robinson (concussion) were limited.
McAdoo would not draw any conclusions on Beckham coming out of such a light practice.
WHERE’S RHETT?
The Giants signed TE Rhett Ellison to a four-year, $18 million free agent contract this offseason, but Ellison played only 33% of the offensive snaps in Week 1 and 39% in Week 2.
McAdoo initially tried to claim Ellison hadn’t played a lot because “we haven’t had many plays,” but when pressed why Ellison hadn’t seen the field much, the coach elaborated: “Well, we haven’t had many plays in normal down and distance in a close ballgame. We’ve been behind two scores far too often.”
So there you go, Giants. Keep the games close. For Rhett.