NEW YORK — The Giants‘ Halloween bye week can’t come soon enough.
Middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is out for the season due to the shoulder injury that sidelined him all week in practice, a source confirmed to the News. So the Giants (3-2-1) are now limping down to Houston to face the Texans (2-4) before a much-needed week off.
Edmunds, 28, said Thursday that he was discussing a possible long-term absence with the trainers, and on Friday, The Athletic reported Edmunds was done for the season.
Specifically, Edmunds has a torn muscle in his chest, per ESPN. He sustained it in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints. Defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (neck), who has been on injured reserve, is also done for the season, per ESPN.
John Harbaugh is now staring at a startling total of players sidelined by season-ending injuries, including quarterback Jaxson Dart (left MCL, meniscus), top pass rusher Brian Burns (right ACL, meniscus), wide receiver Calvin Austin (torn right ACL), defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris (torn Achilles), returner Gunner Olszewski (torn Achilles), rookie defensive back Thaddeus Dixon (torn Achilles), Edmunds and Golston.
The Giants signed Edmunds to a three-year, $36 million free agent contract with $23.7 million guaranteed in March. Then they drafted Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the No. 5 overall pick in April. That duo was supposed to revamp the Giants’ run defense and identity.
Reese, 21, has been an exciting player. But Edmunds has been disappointing.
The Giants defense is allowing five yards per carry, tied for second worst in the NFL behind only the Carolina Panthers (5.1). And Edmunds’ effort was not satisfactory or consistent on some big plays downfield the past two weeks against Washington and New Orleans.
Tenured Giant Micah McFadden is expected to step into Edmunds’ starting spot to call the defense and try to help Dennard Wilson’s unit rebound against the Texans, an offense led by quarterback C.J. Stroud that is starting to get hot and healthy at a bad time for New York.
But the real question is how the Giants will be able to regroup and gather themselves coming out of their Week 8 bye.
They’ll be staring at a four-game stretch at the Philadelphia Eagles, home against the Commanders and Jacksonville Jaguars and at the Indianapolis Colts. There seem to be three winnable games there if the Giants can keep themselves together.
That becomes more difficult, though, with each starting player season-ending injury that hits Harbaugh’s roster in year one.
Newsome out, Johnson doubtful
Edmunds and corner Greg Newsome II (concussion) are out for Sunday’s game in Houston. Tight end Theo Johnson (neck) is doubtful. Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (calf), safety Jevón Holland (concussion), swing tackle Marcus Mbow (knee) and safety Tyler Nubin (neck) are questionable. Corner Paulson Adebo (knee) is questionable but is expected to be activated for a return to the lineup from injured reserve.
Texans safeties Jalen Pitre (shoulder) and Reed Blankenship (concussion/hand) are out. So are tackle Blake Fisher (thumb) and running back David Montgomery (groin). Wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) is questionable but expected to make his season debut.