Giants move Chauncey Golston to injured reserve with neck injury before Commanders trip

The New York Giants placed defensive lineman Chauncey Golston on injured reserve on Saturday, October 10, with a neck injury, sidelining him for at least the next four games starting with Sunday’s visit to the Washington Commanders.

To fill the game-day roster, the Giants elevated wide receiver Dalen Cambre and outside linebacker Trace Ford from the practice squad.

A week without practice

Golston did not take part in practice on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, and the team ruled him out for Washington on its final injury report. Safety Jason Pinnock, who has a concussion, was also ruled out; the rest of the roster carried no game designation.

Under league rules every in-season injured reserve placement keeps a player out for at least four games, with no separate short-term or long-term category.

The team has not said how long the injury will keep him out. Dan Duggan reported that he expects the absence to be a long one, and he had predicted the move on Friday after Golston was the only player missing from practice. How serious the injury is and whether surgery is needed are not yet known.

The Giants elevated Cambre and Ford and placed Golston on IR.

A reminder, there's no short-term IR or long-term IR designation. Every player who goes on IR during the season is eligible to be activated after four weeks. My expectation is that Golston's injury will sideline him… https://t.co/DUw5mfhiOh

— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) October 10, 2026

Golston’s place on the line

Golston, who joined the Giants in March 2025 after four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, made four tackles in the season-opening 28-20 win over his former club. His first year in New York was cut short by injuries that limited him to 10 games and one start, and the club restructured his contract in August to create salary-cap room.

His absence trims the rotation along a defensive front that has carried a 3-1 start. The Giants beat the Arizona Cardinals 36-24 last Sunday, a game sealed when cornerback Deonte Banks returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown on the final play.

Ford, the outside linebacker promoted for Sunday, gives the Giants another edge body while Golston is out. Cambre adds receiver depth.

What comes next

The Giants play at the Commanders on Sunday, October 11, at 1 p.m. EDT at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. They host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 18, at 1 p.m. EDT.