The New York Giants‘ opening-week loss was more damaging than even the final score indicated
New York reportedly lost starting linebacker Micah McFadden to foot surgery, which will cost him “significant time” according to NFL Network.
McFadden was able to play just 11 defensive snaps before he was carted off in the first quarter of New York’s 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders. McFadden is coming off consecutive 100-plus-tackle seasons, and he led the Giants with a career-high 107 tackles in 2024.
What Happened To Micah McFadden?
McFadden had already posted three tackles in the first quarter, including one on Commanders running back Austin Ekeler, when he could not get up after his left leg got caught under him with about eight minutes to go in the opening frame.
The injury was initially diagnosed as a leg injury, and the linebacker had his leg placed in an air cast — the Giants even feared he had broken his leg. But coach Brian Daboll said X-rays did not show a fracture Sunday.
Still, McFadden seems likely to land injured reserve, which will cost up four-plus games. Daboll already announced McFadden would miss New York’s Week 2 game against the Dallas Cowboys, though the team has not made a ruling on what it would with his roster spot yet.
The 2022 fifth-round pick earned a 64.1 grade from Pro-Football Focus for his half quarter of action, and he made the Giants’ first tackle of the season on the opening kickoff — his lone special-teams snap of the game.
Who Will Replace Micah McFadden For The Giants?
The Giants replaced McFadden with second-year reserve linebacker Darius Muasau, but Washington almost immediately picked on him when Daniels threw a seven-yard touchdown to longtime New York nemesis Zach Ertz for the game’s first touchdown.
Muasau gave up inside leverage on Ertz’s double move, which opened a window for Daniels to hit Ertz and give the Commanders a lead they would not relinquish.
Although Musasau finished with two tackles, while playing 54 percent of defensive snaps in Week 1, he also earned an awful 30.0 overall grade from Pro-Football Focus for his performance Sunday.
He got a 34.4 grade in pass coverage from PFF, since he allowed both passes he covered to be completed. Both marks were 92nd-best out of 100 qualifying linebackers to play in Week 1.
Muasau is next on the depth chart — and he was going to play even if McFadden was healthy, since he played in 15 games a year ago. But he was dreadful in pass coverage in 2024, surrendering an 80 percent completion rate on the 15 times he was thrown at.
So Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles may be an option for the Giants, especially if they need a linebacker who can defend the pass better. Flannigan-Fowles allowed just a 79.2 passer rating in coverage a year ago and had one interception as a member of the San Francisco 49ers.
Yet, therein lies the issue for the Giants, since Muasau was most effective rushing the passer. He posted a respectable 54.3 pass-rush grade from PFF against the Commanders, even if he did not log a sack, hurry, pressure or knockdown.
Maybe, the Giants will just have to hope that McFadden gets well as soon as possible.
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