Brandon Marshall Third Giants’ Wide Receiver Lost For Season

Brandon Marshall announced late Monday night on Instagram that he will have ankle surgery Tuesday and miss the rest of the season. Marshall joins Odell Beckham Jr. and Dwayne Harris, who have already been placed on injured reserve, as Giants wide receivers who are now out for the year.

Multiple reports indicated that Beckham had surgery Monday night to repair his fractured ankle. Harris (fractured foot) will join Marshall in having surgery on Tuesday.

All three, along with fellow wide receiver Sterling Shepard, were injured Sunday in a loss to the San Diego Chargers.

What Happens Now?

We already discussed that question in regards to Beckham, and in regards to how the Giants go about handling the wide receiver position.

What, though, about the futures for Marshall and Harris.

With the Giants at 0-5, headed toward a disastrous season, and probably in need of clearing salary cap space in the offseason it is fair to wonder if Marshall and Harris have played their last games with the Giants.

Marshall, 33, was signed to a two-year, $11 million contract during the offseason. Expectations were that he would join Beckham, Shepard and first-round pick Evan Engram in a high-powered passing attack.

That didn’t happen. Marshall caught just 18 passes for an average of 8.6 yards per catch with no touchdowns. The six-time Pro Bowler had several key drops and admitted he wasn’t playing up to his standards.

“I haven’t played the way I’ve wanted to play,” Marshall said last week.

Now, he won’t get a chance to fix that this season. Or, perhaps ever with the Giants, who could save $5.5 million against the salary cap by cutting Marshall after this season.

Harris, 30, is in the third year of a five-year, $17.5 million contract. He was averaging 6.9 yards on punt returns and 20.9 yards on kickoff returns. The Giants could save $2.45 million against the cap by cutting Harris.

Who’s Next?

The Giants have already added wide receivers Travis Rudolph and Tavarres King to the 53-man roster. Practice squad options to replace Marshall include Ed Eagan, Marquis Bundy and Darius Powe, who was just re-signed to the practice squad on Monday.

NJ Advance Media is reporting that the Giants will promote Eagan, who could return kicks and perhaps play in the slot. Eagan averaged 9.0 yards on three punt returns and 22.5 yards on four kickoff returns during the preseason.

• Getting to know wide receiver Ed Eagan

Coach Ben McAdoo said Monday that he did not believe former Giant Victor Cruz would be an option, but “never say never.”