The Giants and Raiders are engaging in tactical warfare, as each team has ruled out several key players ahead of the much-anticipated “Tank Bowl” on Sunday afternoon.
Big Blue officially placed multiple key starters on injured reserve ahead of Sundayâs showdown, according to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson. This includes star left tackle Andrew Thomas, center John Michael Schmitz, safety Tyler Nubin, and defensive lineman D.J. Davidson.
New York has signed center Bryan Hudson, kicker Ben Sauls, defensive tackle Elijah Chatman, and safety Raheem Layne to the roster to fill their spots. In addition, the Giants have elevated running back Dante “Turbo” Miller and tight end Zach Davidson from the practice squad.
Multiple Starters Out on Both Sides of the Ball
Andrew Thomas, the teamâs All-Pro left tackle, wonât be stepping onto the field. His hamstring injury not only removes a cornerstone of the offensive line but also leaves rookie Marcus Mbow to face the Raiders’ edge rushers in one of the leagueâs most high-stakes, draft-influencing games.
Compounding the problem, starting center John Michael Schmitz is also out with a finger injury. With the heart of the offensive line suddenly gone, the Giants are left scrambling to protect quarterback Jaxson Dart and maintain any semblance of a running game.
On the defensive side, the losses are equally crippling. Lineman D.J. Davidson and safety Tyler Nubin are also sidelined with neck injuries, leaving gaps in coverage and run support that inexperienced backups will have to fill.
Even the tight end group is thinner than normal, with Theo Johnson out due to illness, while question marks hover over CorâDale Flott and Josh Ezeudu. Star pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux remains sidelined for the season, further depleting the teamâs defensive firepower.
Raiders Moved Star Defensive End To Injured Reserve
The Giants were not the only team to move key starters to injured reserve, with the Raiders deciding to move star edge rusher Maxx Crosby to IR just one day before the game against New York.
Although Crosby has been dealing with lingering injuries and will need offseason surgery, he reportedly disagreed with the decision. He had been playing through injuries for most of the season and left the building in protest of the decision.
Earlier this week, Crosby went on a rant about the tanking narrative, saying, âYeah, I donât give a [expletive] about the [No. 1] pick. I donât play for that. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world.â
In addition, the Raiders placed tight end Brock Bowers and safety Jeremy Chinn on injured reserve and ruled out starting tackle Kolton Miller earlier this week. Despite there being genuine injury concerns on either side, the timing of these moves has many fans of both teams suspicious of the opposing team’s motives.
With both teams being 2-13 on the season with two weeks left, they are each other’s biggest obstacle to the league’s worst record and top overall pick. Although the Giants would likely trade the pick back for a haul, while the Raiders would presumably keep it to draft Fernando Mendoza, both front offices and both sets of fans are shamelessly craving a loss on Sunday.
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