The New York Giants bounced back from a rough 0-2 start with a win over the Houston Texans this past weekend, but they lost second-year tight end Evan Engram to a knee injury. The Giants will be without Engram for two-to-four weeks with a moderate MCL sprain, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The #Giants called TE Evan Engram week-to-week with his MCL sprain, and it sounds like it’s a moderate sprain. Roughly 2-4 weeks is the estimate, and NYG promoted TE Garrett Dickerson from the practice squad yesterday.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 26, 2018
This is a significant blow to their passing game as Engram has emerged as a highly reliable target for Eli Manning over his brief time in the league. In the first three games played this year, Engram hauled in 10 catches on 13 targets for 104 receiving yards and a touchdown. Although his production is tailed off a bit from last season's pace, Engram was on a trajectory to make more than 50 catches for 500 receiving yards and five touchdowns prior to the injury.
Engram's absence now pushes veteran tight end Rhett Ellison into a bigger role in the offense. Ellison has six catches for 60 receiving yards and a touchdown this season. The bulk of that production came after Engram suffered the MCL injury against the Texans, a game in which he hauled in three receptions for 39 receiving yards and a touchdown. This could lead to him garnering a consistent level of involvement in the passing game while he's in the starting lineup over the next couple of weeks.
Engram's absence might also see more balls spread out at each of the other targets in the passing game, such as wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard, along with rookie running back Saquon Barkley.
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