Giants place long-snapper Zak DeOssie on injured reserve

After days of speculation, the New York Giants on Saturday placed long-snapper Zak DeOssie on injured reserve with wrist and knee injuries. The move could end the NFL career of the 35-year-old 13-year veteran.

DeOssie, sadly, is one game shy of joining Eli Manning (234), Michael Strahan (216), Howard Cross (207) and George Martin (201) as the only Giants to play in 200 games for the franchise.

Coach Pat Shurmur said Friday that DeOssie was originally injured Week 10 vs. the New York Jets.

“He was just fighting through it being a tough guy,” Shurmur said.

DeOssie rolled a snap to holder Riley Dixon last week, probably an indication that he wasn’t right physically.

Drafted in the fourth round in 2007, DeOssie has two Super Bowl rings and appeared in two Pro Bowls. DeOssie and Manning have been the only two remaining links to the franchise’s most recent championships. Now, Manning is the only one left. That, we know, could change five games from now.

“Zak’s been a guy around here who has played at a high level,” Shurmur said. “He’s a big-time Giant.”

The Giants are promoting Colin Holba from the practice to replace DeOssie as the long-snapper. Holba, 26, was a sixth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017. He has played in 13 NFL games, seven for the Jacksonville Jaguars and six for the San Francisco 49ers, including two this season. The Giants signed him to their practice squad Nov. 12.

“We’re confident that he’ll do a good job,” Shurmur said.

“He’s a veteran guy who’s done it before,” said special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey. “He’s been in a game, he’s been on the practice squad, he’s worked. He knows what he’s doing.”