Giants face linebacker challenges ahead of pivotal matchup with Cowboys
The New York Giants are bracing for a significant challenge as they prepare for their Week 2 showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. Already under pressure to bounce back from a disappointing Week 1 performance, the team has suffered another setback in their linebacker and special teams depth.
Flannigan-Fowles ruled out for Dallas game
New York has officially announced that linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles will not make the trip to Dallas due to a calf injury, which he was already given a doubtful designation for earlier in the week. This absence is a considerable blow for a team that relies heavily on its special teams and linebacker corps. Flannigan-Fowles, who was signed in the offseason after a successful stint with the San Francisco 49ers, has been dealing with calf issues that sidelined him for a significant portion of training camp and all three preseason games.
The timing could not be worse for the Giants, who are also coping with the loss of inside linebacker Micah McFadden, believed to be out for the season due to a foot injury. This double blow leaves the Giants with a thinner linebacker unit as they gear up to face one of the league’s stronger special teams units.
Potential roster adjustments on the horizon
With Flannigan-Fowles likely heading for injured reserve, which would keep him out for at least four weeks, the Giants are expected to make roster adjustments. They may elevate one of the linebackers from their practice squad—either Swayze Bozeman or Zaire Barnes—to the 53-man roster, while the other could receive a standard practice squad promotion.
In addition to linebacker reinforcements, the Giants are also anticipated to elevate defensive lineman Elijah Garcia from the practice squad. This move comes in response to Rakeem Nunez-Roches being listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game due to a foot injury.
What’s next for the Giants?
Final roster transactions ahead of the Week 2 games will be officially announced shortly after 4 p.m. ET. As the Giants navigate these injuries and the looming challenge of facing the Cowboys, fans and analysts alike will be closely watching how the team adapts to these unforeseen hurdles. The stakes are high, and how the Giants respond could shape their early season trajectory.
