Engram may return to face Falcons
Evan Engram had a difficult time watching last Thursday night’s loss to the Eagles, the third straight game he’s missed with an MCL sprain in his right knee. And he’s excited that he may get to do something about reversing the Giants’ momentum on Monday night in Atlanta.
“Thursday night was tough,” Engram said Tuesday, after pushing his knee harder in practice and feeling no worse for it. “I’m just gonna try to come back and be a spark for the offense, for the team, definitely. So it should be good. I’m excited. Going back home, too.”
Engram, 24, the Giants’ second-year tight end, was born in Smyrna, Ga., just 13 miles northwest of the Falcons’ downtown Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He played his high school ball at Hillgrove High School just another 15 miles away.
He has 10 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown, but got hurt in the Giants’ lone win in Week 3 in Houston. He was struggling as a blocker and had a few drops in the early going that he’s hoping to correct and clean up. He said his knee “felt good” Tuesday.
The Giants can use Engram’s speed and vertical threat, and coach Pat Shurmur said he is also “hopeful” of getting back Rhett Ellison (foot), after the Giants played without both of their top tight ends in last week’s 34-13 loss to Philly.
ROSTER SHAKEUP
Dave Gettleman placed two seasonopening starters on injured reserve Tuesday: wide receiver Cody Latimer (hamstring) and linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong (concussion).
Latimer, one of Gettleman’s offseason signings, appeared in four of the Giants’ six games, missing two due to injury, and caught six passes for 108 yards. Armstrong, retained from last year’s roster, had lost his job to B.J. Goodson prior to Thursday night’s injury on a kickoff.
Gettleman also waived corner Donte Deayon, a popular teammate whose playing time had decreased to zero snaps against the Eagles. In those players’ places, Gettleman signed free-agent receiver Bennie Fowler and two players off the Giants’ practice squad: linebacker Ukeme Eligwe and undrafted rookie cornerback Grant Haley (Penn State).