As soon as thought of the Giants’ proper sort out of the longer term, Evan Neal is seen now by means of a short-term lens.
Head coach Brian Daboll and offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo centered on the right here and now Friday when requested about the opportunity of taking part in Neal at guard over the ultimate three video games of the common season to get a jump-start on evaluating the place the previous first-round decide may match into the offensive line puzzle subsequent season.
“Our focus is on Atlanta this week,” Daboll mentioned. “We move a lot of people around [in practice]. But we’re really focused on him playing right tackle this game. But you never know.”
The Giants anticipate to enter subsequent season with Andrew Thomas at left sort out and Jermaine Eluemunor at proper sort out.
Beginning proper guard (stopgap Greg Van Roten is a free agent) and swing sort out must be addressed.
“Evan is improving at the right tackle spot and we’ll keep working at it and see where it goes from there,” Bricillo mentioned. “Evan is a big, strong guy … that has the capability of having versatility. You want to see what his best position is. We’re playing through that to determine that.”
Neal spent the primary 9 video games on the bench because the Giants first turned to Josh Ezeudu and Chris Hubbard after Thomas’ season-ending harm.
He has allowed 12 pressures and two sacks over 5 begins since he returned to the lineup — stats that counsel enchancment, although scouts warn that “he is on the ground too much” and nonetheless has “balance issues” when requested by The Put up.
“I’m not interested in what people outside the building say,” Bricillo mentioned.
Former Jets first-round decide Mekhi Becton has remodeled his profession from an injury-plagued draft bust at sort out to a dominant guard in his first season with the Eagles.
Becton was proof against a place change in New York — identical to Neal had been earlier than shedding his beginning job to Eluemunor whereas recovering from offseason foot surgical procedure.
Can the Giants keep away from an identical one-that-got-away scenario by being proactive?
Neal performed one season of left guard at Alabama.
“For myself, it’s about, ‘Where are we at this week,’ ” Bricillo mentioned. “I understand front offices need to do that, but we can’t do that. We need to go win this week. It’s hard enough to get through a day without worrying about what might happen next year.”
QB Tommy DeVito cleared the concussion protocol and can function the backup to starter Drew Lock in opposition to the Falcons.
Former Giants QB Daniel Jones stunned every of his former offensive linemen with a bottle of Clase Azul tequila for Christmas, per ESPN.
Jones began 10 video games earlier than he was benched, reduce and signed with the Vikings observe squad.
It’s customary observe for the beginning quarterback to purchase a Christmas present for the offensive line, however that duty was up within the air given the Giants’ quarterback carousel.
LB Bobby Okereke (again), LB Patrick Johnson (knee) and OG Aaron Stinnie (concussion) had been dominated out for Sunday.
CB Greg Stroman (shoulder/shin) is uncertain.
CB Deonte Banks (rib), OLB Brian Burns (ankle/neck), RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle), LB Dyontae Johnson (ankle) and C Austin Schlottman (fibular) are questionable.
