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The Giants have maintained all along that they have three starting-caliber inside linebackers, and now Tremaine Edmunds’ season-ending right shoulder injury is going to put that theory to the test.
Edmunds will go from logging every defensive snap in the first six games to missing every snap in the final 11, The Post confirmed, after he was injured late in last week’s game against the Saints. He was in the locker room but not on the practice field this week.
It’s another crushing blow to the snakebitten Giants, who have lost their franchise quarterback (Jaxson Dart), best defensive player (edge Brian Burns), and leading tackler and signal-caller (Edmunds) to season-ending injuries.
While there is no solace for Edmunds other than that almost his entire $11.85 million salary next season is fully guaranteed, the Giants can fall back on their depth.
Micah McFadden is a career 36-game starter who was re-signed to start next to Edmunds in the offseason but lost his job when the Giants drafted rookie first-rounder Arvell Reese.
McFadden has played only two defensive snaps this season because Edmunds and Reese almost never leave the field, even though the film shows that Edmunds was a repeat culprit of questionable effort chasing the ball — a point that angered defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson.
“I think I said early on, ‘We have three starters,’” head coach John Harbaugh said after Friday’s practice. “Micah is ready. He’s a starter, and he’ll play really well. He’ll be excited for his opportunity.”
McFadden is the likely bet to take over the green-dot helmet for communicating play calls from Wilson so as not to put too much on Reese’s plate.
Reese, Zaire Barnes, rookie Jack Kelly and McFadden all had a chance to call the defense during the preseason, Wilson said.
But the return to the starting lineup is a long time coming for McFadden, who only logged 11 snaps last season before suffering a season-ending Lisfranc foot injury.
“He was flying around (in the preseason),” Wilson said. “He was making a whole bunch of plays. He can play pass coverage, he can blitz. When the ball breaks (free), he goes and gets it down. He’s a sideline-to-sideline guy.
“He’s a starter in the NFL that was just playing his role. If he has a bigger role, he’ll be ready for it. He’s done it at a high level.”
Edmunds crashed the backfield Sunday and landed hard on his right shoulder as he reached to make an arm tackle on a Kendre Miller third-down run. After the Saints punted and the Giants turned the ball over on downs, Edmunds returned for the final play (a kneel down).
McFadden’s role on special teams has been bigger this season because he wasn’t starting. The 2022 fifth-round pick — tied with Kayvon Thibodeaux as the Giants’ longest-tenured defensive player — has embraced returning to his rookie roots.
“He’s been awesome for the room,” special teams coordinator Chris Horton said. “I’ve been excited to have him out there because the kind of effort he plays with, the kind of physicality he plays with, the communication that he brings. He’s a guy that can play multiple positions on all different phases. He’s a great coach for the younger guys.”