This New York Giants rookie is about to get a huge test.
When the New York Giants selected cornerback Colton Hood with the 37th overall pick of the NFL Draft back in April, the general consensus was very positive.
Hood was very impressive at Tennessee, and some even felt he could end up being the best corner out of his draft class.
He's physical, he's athletic and he possesses great savvy, and given how thin the Giants are in their cornerback room, there appeared to be a significant opportunity for him to eventually establish himself as the team's No. 1 corner. Maybe not during his rookie campaign, but sometime in the near future.
Well, it seems that Hood will get a brilliant opportunity to showcase his abilities as soon as Week 2 on Monday night.
New York has placed fellow cornerback Paulson Adebo on injured reserve due to a knee injury, and Deonte Banks is listed as questionable for the Giants' matchup against the Los Angeles Rams as a result of a calf issue that kept him out of practice Friday and Saturday.
Even if Banks is able to play, you have to figure that he won't be close to 100 percent, which means ample snaps for Hood, who began the season as the No. 4 corner.
The primary issue for Hood has always been his NFL readiness. Yes, he's extraordinarily talented, but he is also very raw, and throwing him into the fray this quickly could obviously have some significant drawbacks.
But at the same time, if Hood impresses, it could also propel him forward in a way that no one initially anticipated.
We know that the Rams feature a lethal passing attack, but Puka Nacua's status is up in the air for Monday evening. The top wide receiver is nursing a hip injury, and he appeared to be trending in the wrong direction as recently as Sunday.
Yes, Los Angeles still has Davante Adams, but if Nacua is sidelined, Greg Newsome II will almost certainly draw the Adams assignment.
That would be a major break for both Hood and the Giants, as it would give the rookie some breathing room in what could be his first career start if Banks sits. Or, at the very least, his first game with heavy snaps.
This will be a major test for Hood, an earliest test that he — or anyone — expected. We'll see how the youngster manages.
