The New York Giants are without cornerback Colton Hood, safety Tyler Nubin and tight end Theo Johnson for Sunday’s 1 p.m. game against the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium, and offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor joined them on the inactive list after carrying a questionable tag into the weekend.
The bigger news for John Harbaugh’s team is who is available. Outside linebacker Abdul Carter (calf) and left tackle Andrew Thomas (groin) were both questionable and are not among the six Giants inactives, so the 3-1-1 club has its top edge rusher and its blind-side protector for a game against a 1-4 opponent.
Who did not practice, who was limited
Hood (concussion) and Nubin (neck) missed all three practices and were ruled out on Friday. Johnson’s neck injury got worse as the week went on: he was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, then sat out Friday entirely before being declared out.
Carter, Thomas and Eluemunor followed the same path. None of the three practiced on Wednesday or Thursday, and all three returned on a limited basis Friday. Carter and Thomas made it to the lineup; Eluemunor did not. Quarterback Jake Haener (third quarterback) and defensive lineman C.J. Okoye complete the inactive list.
Several others worked through problems without missing time: cornerback Greg Newsome II (groin) was limited all week, safety Jason Pinnock was back to full work after a concussion, and running back Najee Harris (ribs), tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) and receiver Darnell Mooney (neck) carried no designation. Edge rusher Trace Ford was elevated from the practice squad for a third straight week.
What it means against New Orleans
The back end is the thin spot. Losing Hood and Nubin together takes a starting cornerback and a starting safety off the field, so Newsome, playing through his groin issue, and Pinnock in his first game back from a concussion become more important against Tyler Shough and the Saints’ passing game.
Johnson’s absence trims the tight end room to Likely and the depth behind him, and Eluemunor’s leaves the Giants with less cover on the offensive line should Thomas’ groin flare up.
The Saints side
New Orleans is without linebacker Kaden Elliss (calf) and edge rusher Anfernee Jennings (knee), both missing a third straight game after sitting out every practice. Defensive lineman Nathan Shepard (illness) was questionable and is inactive. Running back Alvin Kamara (back) and receiver Chris Olave (illness) were questionable as well and are active; Olave missed Wednesday and Thursday before a limited Friday session. Long snapper Zach Wood came off injured reserve for the game.
What comes next
The Giants visit the Houston Texans on Sunday, October 25, at 1 p.m. EDT. The Saints face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Paris that same morning at 9:30 a.m. EDT. Follow the game in the Saints-Giants Game Center and the league-wide list on our injuries page.
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