The New York Giants may have just caught a big break for their Monday night matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
The New York Giants were dealt some bad news Friday, as cornerback Paulson Adebo was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury.
Couple that with the fact that both Deonte Banks (calf) and Greg Newsome II (rib) are nursing some maladies, as well, and the Giants' secondary is in bad shape heading into the team's Week 2 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.
But New York may have just caught a big break in that regard.
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua missed Friday's practice with a hip injury, putting his status for Monday night's clash in jeopardy.
Should Nacua miss the affair, it would completely change things for the Giants, who would then only have to worry about Davante Adams as Matthew Stafford's primary weapon in the aerial attack.
New York actually did a tremendous job against the Dallas Cowboys' vaunted passing attack in Week 1, holding both CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in check.
But questions about the Giants' defensive backfield remain.
Banks and Newsome are New York's two starting cornerbacks, and I don't think that makes anyone feel comfortable. And with Adebo now sidelined, rookie Colton Hood becomes the top corner off the bench, which is scary.
The Giants recently signed Nikko Reed off the Los Angeles Charges' practice squad to compensate for the loss of Adebo. Reed will probably get some snaps on Monday, which tells you something about the state of New York's cornerback room.
Meanwhile, safeties Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin were actually very impressive in Week 1. Holland picked off Dak Prescott and had the type of performance the Giants expected when they signed him to a three-year, $45 million free-agent contract in March 2025. Nubin may very well have played the best game of his career.
Nickelback Dru Phillips struggled in the slot, picking up three defensive pass interference penalties. Yes, a couple of the flags were questionable, but he was also penalized nine times in 2025, so he is developing a reputation.
If Nacua ends up sidelined here in Week 2, it would absolutely increase the Giants' chances of beating a desperate Rams team on the road.
