NFC breakout candidates: A new potential star for every team
Here are 16 players to watch in 2024 — one from each NFC club who might not be well-known beyond his own fan base, but soon can be.AUGUST 14
NEW YORK GIANTS 2-8 · 4TH IN NFC EAST
2-8 · 4TH IN NFC EAST
Next Game vs Buccaneers · Today 6:00PM
NYG +6.0 TOTAL 40.5
Dante Miller - Dealing with hamstring injury Miller (hamstring) was limited at practice Tuesday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Impact Miller impressed during New York's preseason opener against the Lions, when he rushed 12 times for 63 yards and secured both of his targets for seven yards, but he's now dealing with a hamstring injury that could impact his status for Saturday's exhibition game against Houston. With Tyrone Tracy (ankle) having suffered a low-ankle sprain at practice Tuesday, Miller is facing an opportunity for increased reps if he can get healthy without missing much time.
AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE
Drew Lock - Could play Saturday Coach Brian Daboll said Tuesday that Lock (hip) is doing "a lot better" and could be active for Saturday's preseason game against the Texans, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official s...
Impact Lock said he fully expects to be ready for Week 1, per Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. The backup QB suffered a bone contusion and strained oblique during New York's preseason opener against the Lions, but it doesn't appear he'll be sidelined too long. Until Lock returns to practice, though, No. 3 quarterback Tommy DeVito figures to benefit from increased reps.
AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE
Lawrence Cager - Now nursing groin injury Cager (groin) did not practice Tuesday due to a groin injury, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.
Impact Cager was sidelined due to a hamstring injury to begin training camp, and upon returning to practice Sunday he quickly picked up a new groin issue. The 26-year-old is competing for a depth role at tight end, but he's had difficult staying on the field so far. Cager's injury could keep him out of Saturday's preseason contest on the road against Houston.
AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE
Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy carted off after ankle injury
New York Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy was carted off the field on Tuesday after injuring his right ankle on a special teams playAUGUST 13 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Has low-ankle sprain Tracy was diagnosed with a low right-ankle sprain after he got injured during Tuesday's practice, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Impact Initially, Tracy was believed to have suffered a serious injury because he needed an air cast on his lower right leg and was carted off the practice field before being taken to the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. After that visit, though, the rookie fifth-rounder was back in the team facility in meetings a few hours later, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com, with his lower right leg in a boot. Tracy's prognosis is week-to-week, which presumably will keep him sidelined for the Giants' final two preseason games but could allow him to be available Week 1 against the Vikings.
AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE
Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Diagnosed with ankle sprain Tracy suffered a sprained right ankle during Tuesday's practice, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Impact According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, Tracy's lower right leg appeared to buckle as he reached for a ball during a kickoff drill, and the rookie fifth-rounder eventually was carted off the field with the leg in question in an air cast. Tracy then was escorted to the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan to be evaluated further. Fortunately for Tracy, he's already back in the Giants' facility for meetings, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com, meaning he seems to have avoided a major injury. With two preseason games left on New York's slate, the team likely will continue to exercise caution, which could impact his standing in the RB pecking order behind starter Devin Singletary.
AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE
10 Most valuable NFL franchises: Cowboys valued at over $10 billion
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Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Taken to hospital with ankle injury The Giants announced Tuesday that Tracy (ankle) sustained an ankle injury at practice and will be taken to the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan for further evaluation, Pat...
Impact Tracy had to be carted off the practice field Tuesday during a kickoff drill, with an air cast on his lower right leg. Evaluation at the HSS will provide a comprehensive picture of Tracy's injury, which it looks like could be severe. If the rookie fifth-round pick is forced to miss significant time, Eric Gray and Dante Miller will figure to bump up the backfield depth chart behind veteran starter Devin Singletary.
AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE
Malik Nabers - No concerns for Week 1 Nabers (ankle), who is not practicing Tuesday, said he has "no doubt" for Week 1 and that his injury is ""nothing serious," Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Impact Coach Brian Daboll said Monday that Nabers is considered day-to-day after leaving Sunday's practice due to an ankle issue, and MRI and X-Ray tests revealed Tuesday that the rookie first-round pick has indeed avoided a long-term injury. Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports that the issue is a sprain, which Nabers said won't need any support when he's ready to return to action. It's a relief that Nabers' availability for New York's regular-season opener against Minnesota on Sept. 8 isn't in jeopardy, but the injury will force him to miss some practice time in training camp and could impact his status for the Giants' final two preseason games, starting with Saturday's matchup against Houston.
AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE
Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Carted off at practice Tuesday Tracy (lower leg) was carted off the practice field Tuesday due to what appears to be a right lower leg injury, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.
Impact Tracy has an aircast on his right leg, and it appears that he may have suffered a major injury. Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports that the rookie fifth-round pick's lower leg or ankle appeared to buckle as he reached for the ball during a kickoff drill. Tracy rushed five times for 26 yards and wasn't targeted in the Giants' preseason opener against the Lions, and he's spent training camp competing with Eric Gray for the backup gig behind Devin Singletary. If Tracy's injury is indeed serious, Gray will stand to inherit the No. 2 role, while Dante Miller would vault to the No. 3 spot.
AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE
Malik Nabers - Tests reveal nothing major Tests on Nabers' ankle didn't reveal a long-term injury, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.
Impact The Giants apparently got favorable results from an MRI and X-Ray, with coach Brian Daboll suggesting Tuesday that Nabers will miss some practice time but isn't expected to be out for too long. Daboll declined to provide a diagnosis, merely confirming that the tests didn't reveal a serious injury.
AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE
Kayvon Thibodeaux - Working in new defensive scheme Thibodeaux and fellow edge rusher Brian Burns will be heavily depended upon to pressure the quarterback this season under new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, Matt Citak of the t...
Impact Under since-ousted defensive coordinator Wink Martindale last year, the Giants blitzed 46.2 percent of the time, the second-highest rate in the league. Meanwhile, Bowen's Tennessee Titan defense blitzed on just 20.4 percent of defensive plays -- 24th in the NFL. Bowen's approach is likely to carry over to his work with New York, which means that Thibodeaux and Burns' importance as pass rushers will be magnified. That could lead Thibodeaux to ascend to new heights after breaking out with 11.5 sacks in his second NFL campaign last year.
AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE
Lions sign QB Jake Fromm, adding depth at position that took a hit with Hendon Hooker's concussion
The Detroit Lions signed quarterback Jake Fromm on Monday, adding depth at a position that took a hit when Hendon Hooker had a concussionAUGUST 13 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lawrence Cager - Suffers lower body injury Cager suffered a lower body injury Monday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Impact Cager was injured during practice, although the severity of the injury is currently unknown. Once healthy, the 26-year-old will continue to compete for a backup tight end spot.
AUGUST 12 • ROTOWIRE
Dru Phillips - Dealing with ankle injury Phillips left Sunday's practice session due to an ankle injury, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.
Impact Phillips sustained the injury during 11-on-11 drills Sunday, and he was held out of Monday's practice session. The rookie third-round pick out of Kentucky is set to operate as the Giants' third corner alongside starters Cor'Dale Flott (quadriceps) and Deonte Banks. Tre Herndon took Phillips' place in drills Monday, and the former would be in line to see more first-team snaps should the latter be unable to suit up for Saturday's preseason game against the Texans.
AUGUST 12 • ROTOWIRE
Lorenzo Lingard - Signs with Giants The Giants signed Lingard on Monday, Dan Salomone of the team's official site reports.
Impact Lingard will head to New York after being waived by the Jaguars earlier this month. The rookie undrafted free agent will now spend the remainder of the summer competing for a roster spot as a backup running back.
AUGUST 12 • ROTOWIRE
Giants in no hurry to rush Malik Nabers after rookie receiver injured his ankle in practice
New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is going to be given all the time he needs to get over his left ankle sprainAUGUST 12 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Malik Nabers - Considered day-to-day Coach Brian Daboll said Monday that Nabers (ankle) is "sore" and considered day-to-day, Patricia Traina of SI.com reports.
Impact Nabers reportedly sprained his ankle during Sunday's practice, and while he won't participate Monday, it sounds like the Giants aren't at all concerned about a lengthy absence. He played three drives in Thursday's preseason opener against the Lions, finishing without a target on 12 snaps.
AUGUST 12 • ROTOWIRE
Giants first-round pick WR Malik Nabers tweaks ankle during training camp
The New York Giants returned to practice Sunday for the first time since their preseason opener, but lost rookie WR Malik Nabers to what the...AUGUST 11
Gervarrius Owens - Dealing with knee issue Owens missed practice Sunday due to a knee injury, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Impact The severity of Owens' injury hasn't yet been made clear, but an absence of more than a few days could impact his chances of making the Giants' 53-man roster. Owens is competing for a depth role at safety after being selected in seventh round of the 2023 Draft and logging 36 special-teams snaps (and zero defensive snaps) over three regular-season contests last year.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
Evan Neal - Activated from PUP list Neal (ankle) returned from the active/PUP list Sunday, Michael Eisen of the Giants' official site reports.
Impact The offensive tackle is only back for individual drills at this point, not team drills, per Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record. That leaves Jermaine Eluemunor ahead of Neal on the depth chart for now, though Neal should have a chance to start once he's fully back. The 2022 first-round pick underwent ankle surgery in January.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
John Michael Schmitz Jr. - Returns to practice Schmitz (shoulder) participated in practice Sunday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Impact Schmitz had been sitting out since Monday due to a shoulder injury. He's expected to be eased back into practice, but assuming he doesn't experience any setbacks, Schmitz should be ready to line up as New York's starting center when the regular season kicks off.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
Lions looking into options for depth at quarterback with Hendon Hooker still in concussion protocol
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker was still in concussion protocol, three days after he was injured in a preseason game against the New York GiantsAUGUST 11 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Malik Nabers - Injury appears to be minor The Giants believe Nabers, who exited practice early Sunday, is dealing with a minor ankle sprain, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Nabers took off his left shoe and limped to the sideline late in Sunday's practice, but Ranaan reports that the Giants "don't appear overly concerned" about the issue at this point. If the initial belief that the rookie wideout is suffering from a minor sprain proves to be true, he could be held out for Saturday's preseason matchup against Houston, but the injury probably wouldn't prevent Nabers from suiting up for Week 1 of the regular season. Of course, the organization isn't likely to take any chances with Nabers' health after selecting him sixth overall in April's draft to be the team's new No. 1 wideout.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
