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The New York Giants suffered a tough loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, losing several key players to injury in the process. Most notably, quarterback Daniel Jones left with a concussion, and running back Saquon Barkley left with an ankle injury. The Giants fell to 1-4 on the young season with the loss in Dallas, and with the injuries mounting it may be getting late early. Here are three takeaways from the the Giants‘ Week 5 loss to the Cowboys.
Too many injuries
The Giants weren't going to be NFC East favorites even with a healthy roster. Right now, they have anything but that. The Giants lost three more offensive starters on Sunday, on top of the key guys they already had out.
Giants injuries today:
QB Daniel Jones: Out with a concussion
RB Saquon Barkley: Out with an ankle injury
WR Kenny Golladay: Out with a knee injuryAnd already no WR Sterling Shepard, OT Andrew Thomas and WR Darius Slayton.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 10, 2021
Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton were slated to be the Giants' top three receivers heading into the season. Suddenly, rookie WR Kadarius Toney has been vaulted into the No. 1 receiver role and seems to be handling himself fine (see below). Mike Glennon and Devonte Booker will have to try to fill the shoes of Jones and Barkley for however long they're out. With the Giants already three games behind the Cowboys in the NFC East, things aren't looking great for New York's postseason hopes.
Kadarius Toney is (extremely) legit
Kadarius Toney broke out in Week 4 with six catches for 78 yards in what was Giants win over the New Orleans Saints, but he outdid himself in Week 5. Toney racked up 10 catches for 189 yards vs. the Cowboys on Sunday, doing work vs. a Dallas secondary that has given opponents trouble at times this season. The Giants still need to get their other receivers back, but Toney looks like a legitimate weapon, and the probably most explosive one they have on the entire roster. New York should be doing everything in their power to keep feeding Toney the ball, especially with other guys hobbled by injury.
Kadarius Toney has rare instincts with the ball on his hands.
So few players know this move is where the space is going to be.
Get this guy the ball. Lots pic.twitter.com/yxLyBEXW6S
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) October 10, 2021
Kadarius Toney’s movement skills are 1-of-1. He’s so unique it almost doesn’t make sense pic.twitter.com/rBvM1l1f5N
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) October 10, 2021
Not as bad as it looks
Despite being 1-4 and coming off a bad loss, the Giants are not as bad as they look. Considering all of the injuries and the fact that New York trailed Dallas by a score of 17-13 early in the third quarter, this could have been a competitive game if the Giants didn't suffer so many injuries. This has been a theme for New York this season, as they have played better than their 1-4 record. In weeks 2 and 3, the Giants lost by a total of four points.
Things could easily be looking much different in the standings for New York, but here we are. If the Giants can get back Jones, Barkley and others in short order, they might be able to scrap around and put together a decent record from this point on. The postseason might be a stretch at this point with a few more tough games coming up (vs. Los Angeles Rams, vs. Carolina Panthers, at Kansas City Chiefs are their next three games), but if the Giants can get healthy, they can put a competitive product on the field.
