Rook Engram becomes Eli’s favorite target
In losing all of their starting wide receivers, the Giants have found Odell Beckham Jr. a wingman for years to come.
With Sterling Shepard (ankle) out again, Eli Manning struggled to develop a rapport with any of the team’s wide receivers for the second straight week — following the season-ending injuries to Beckham, Brandon Marshall and Dwayne Harris — but rookie tight end Evan Engram cemented his role as the quarterback’s new favorite target, making a team-high six catches for 60 yards, and scoring the Giants’ lone touchdown in Sunday’s 24-7 loss to the Seahawks at MetLife Stadium.
“Of course those guys are missed, their bigplay capabilities, they’re some of the best in the game, but we’ve got to step up,” Engram said. “We got to make plays, too. It’s not good without those guys. We’d love to have them, but we still got to come out and make plays.”
Engram, who recorded a team-best five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown in the previous week’s win over the Broncos, was again Manning’s only reliable — and dangerous — weapon, routinely breaking tackles, and blowing by linebackers who couldn’t keep up with his speed.
On the Giants’ lone redzone opportunity — following a 32-yard fumble recovery by Landon Collins — Manning connected with Engram for a 5yard touchdown pass, with 11:51 remaining in the second quarter, giving the Giants a 7-0 lead. It was Engram’s third touchdown of the season.
“He’s a first-round draft pick for a reason,” running back Orleans Darkwa said. “He’s talented and it was good to see him making plays, and I think we all have to step our game up and get on his level.”
When Seattle took a 10-7 lead midway through the third quarter, Engram nearly threw the entire Giants offense on his shoulder pads again, making a catch on the sideline, and shaking a tackle, before sprinting 72 yards up the sideline, and being brought down at the 3-yard line.
Seconds later, the stadium returned to silence, with the massive gain erased after Engram was ruled to have stepped out of bounds before making the catch.
“I was pushed out,” Engram said. “I think it should be a rule if you get pushed out you can come back in and touch the ball, but that’s not it. I was pushed out. It was a big play, it kind of hurt bringing it back. We need more of those type of plays.”
Few players currently on the field can make them, which Manning recognizes. Engram, who tied a season-high in receptions, was targeted 12 times. No other receiver had more than six targets.
“I think Evan’s done a good job,” Manning said. “We’ve got to keep finding ways to get him the ball.”