The New York Giants are banged up heading into Week 2.
We already know the New York Giants will be without Paulson Adebo at least through Week 5, as the cornerback was placed on injured reserved due to a knee injury.
As if that weren't bad enough, the Giants might also be without another key defensive back against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.
Deonte Banks missed practice for the second straight day on Saturday because of a calf issue and is now listed as questionable for the affair.
This isn't just a sore ankle or a creaky shoulder; this is a pretty scary injury that could become very serious if Banks isn't handled properly.
At this point, there seems to be a decent chance that Banks is unavailable on Monday evening, and if he does play, he could be severely compromised.
Banks won a starting cornerback job out of training camp and was targeted seven times during New York's Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He allowed four catches, but he did not surrender any big plays.
The former first-round pick was very impressive throughout the offseason program, and his physical style certainly seems to fit the scheme of new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson.
If he is unable to play in Los Angeles, the Giants will be left with Greg Newsome II — who, by the way, is nursing a rib injury — and rookie Colton Hood as their two starters. They recently signed Nikko Reed off the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad, so if Banks is not active, Reed will likely get significant playing time in Week 2.
New York might also add Jaden Robinson, who the team recently signed to its practice squad, to the active roster if Banks ends up sidelined.
Now, Big Blue might catch a bit of a break here, as Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is also listed as questionable as a result of a hip injury. If Nacua can't play, that will certainly make the job of the Giants' secondary much easier.
Los Angeles does not have a whole lot of depth at the wide receiver position, so if the Rams are sans Nacua, New York might have a chance here.
Regardless, the Giants are going to be in some trouble at SoFi Stadium, and a whole lot more pressure will be placed on the shoulders of safeties Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin — as well as nickelback Dru Phillips — to compensate for the injuries to the res of the defensive backfield.
