The New York Giants have been hit by injuries early in the season, but they got some good news on that front on Friday.
Though the team didn’t practice, both right tackle Bobby Hart (ankle) and middle linebacker B.J. Goodson (shins) were off the projected injury report. Hart was injured early in the Giants’ opening week loss to the Dallas Cowboys (exiting after just two snaps against the Detroit Lions), and Goodson missed the last two games after registering an impressive 18 tackles in the first week.
RT Bobby Hart (ankle) and LB BJ Goodson (shin) are good to go for Sunday, though both would have been limited at practice today.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) September 29, 2017
Hart was impressive in the preseason but struggled in week one, though we don’t know how much of that was related to his ankle injury, which was suffered early on in the game. Goodson’s absence, both as an “eraser” of an aggressive down-hill tackler and as the defensive signal caller, is being credited as part of the Giants’ defensive struggles defending the run.
The Giants should also have running back Shane Vereen for Sunday’s game, despite being listed with a hamstring injury.
The return of Hart should move Justin Pugh back from right tackle to his natural position of left guard, likely ending D.J. Fluker’s (potential) opportunity to show his stuff with the starters at the position. Likewise, the availability of Vereen likely relegates rookie running back Wayne Gallman back to the inactive list if there is optimism about Orleans Darkwa.
Injury report: Jonathan Casillas, Orleans Darkwa, Brett Jones, Olivier Vernon questionable. Everyone else (Goodson, Hart, Vereen) good to go
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) September 29, 2017
No player is yet listed as “out,” but Olivier Vernon being “questionable” has to be a concern, and likely figured in the promotion of Cap Capi from the practice squad.
Stay tuned to Big Blue View while we await the official release from the Giants.
Giants Injury Report
Questionable
OT Bobby Hart (ankle)
LB Jonathan Casillia (ankle/wrist)
RB Orleans Darkwa (back)
OL Brett Jones (hip)
Bucs Injury Report
Out
LB Kwon Alexander (hamstring)
Doubtful
LB Lavonte David (ankle)
S T.J. Ward (hip)
Questionable
DE Robert Ayers (back)
CB Brent Grimes (shoulder)
DT Gerald McCoy (ankle)
DE Noah Spence (shoulder)
G J.R. Sweezy (back)