Optimism after Lemieux carted off field
The cart came out to get Shane Lemieux and the Giants’ starting left guard was driven off the practice field Thursday.
It is a knee issue for Lemieux, and he underwent further evaluation to determine the extent of the damage. There was some initial optimism that Lemieux’s knee was structurally intact and stable, according to a source. An MRI will either confirm that optimism or reveal something more serious.
Just like that, the youth movement the Giants are going with on their offensive line could be in flux. Lemieux, 24, started the final nine games as a rookie last season, earning high marks from the coaching staff for his toughness and ability to block in the running game.
The metrics on him as a pass blocker were poor, but the Giants felt strongly enough about Lemieux’s potential that Will Hernandez was moved to the right side to play right guard, opening up a permanent spot for Lemieux.
The Giants did not make any moves of great significance in the offseason to bolster their offensive line — they did not take an offensive lineman in the draft and they did not sign a starting-caliber player in free agency. They did sign Zach Fulton, 29, who has 90 NFL starts on his résumé, and they also have Kenny Wiggins, 32, an eight-year veteran with 38 career starts.
Wiggins was on the Giants’ practice squad late last season. But they were additions as depth pieces.
Losing Lemieux would test that depth. He sat with his arms crossed, with no wraps or ice on his legs, as he was carted off the field on the second practice of training camp. He was replaced by Wiggins, who took the left guard spot with the starting unit for the next series of drills.
Lemieux was a fifth-round draft pick out of Oregon.
➤ Dexter Lawrence is listed at 342 pounds, and he remains one of the largest players on the roster. Veteran Danny Shelton , at 6-foot-2, is two inches shorter than Lawrence and is listed at 345 pounds. Does this make Lawrence feel a bit small?
“A little bit,’’ Lawrence said. “He’s a massive dude, but good personality. He fits right in. I’m excited to be able to work with him.’’
Lawrence carries his weight quite naturally and looks more finely tuned than he did two years ago as a rookie. He said he tried this offseason to work on his shape.
“It’s kind of like, I’m to the point that I’m going to be big all my life,’’ Lawrence said. “Just make it look good.’’
There was one other goal for Lawrence.
“And keep my sexy on,’’ he said.
➤ RB Alfred Morris was in for a visit, and the Giants like what they saw from the 32-year-old.
Morris is expected to re-sign with the Giants early next week. Morris, a nine-year veteran past his prime, played in nine games for the Giants last season, averaging 4.3 yards in 55 rushing attempts. This addition has nothing to do with Saquon Barkley’s recovery; it will be made to add depth and competition to the position. Morris played for Washington, the Cowboys, 49ers and Cardinals before coming to the Giants in 2020 and has 6,173 career rushing yards and 35 touchdowns.
➤ Barkley, on the physically unable to perform list, again worked on a back field but was far more active on the second day of camp than he was on the first. Barkley, coming off surgery to repair a torn ACL, ran and cut hard on his knee and showed some burst after catching short passes. It will be interesting to see how his knee responds.