New York Giants

New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams reportedly has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL on Monday.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Williams may miss time but "it’s not expected to be much." Giants head coach Brian Daboll said the diagnosis was "better than it could be."

Williams exited New York's Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers after suffering a knee injury midway through the third quarter, and he didn't return. He told reporters after the game he didn't think it was going to be too bad, but he was set to undergo further testing Monday.

An eight-year veteran, Williams has been an incredibly durable player since he was drafted sixth overall by the New York Jets in 2015. He's missed just one game in his entire career, and he's developed into a defensive leader since joining the Giants midway through the 2019 season.

In his first two full season with the Giants, Williams racked up 18 sacks. He had totaled just 17 in his four-plus years with the Jets. The Giants named him a defensive co-captain for the 2022 season.

An injury to Williams is another significant blow to the Giants defensive line. New York played its first two games without both its starting edge-rushers, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari, who are dealing with knee and calf injuries, respectively.

While Williams is out, he will likely be replaced in the lineup by veteran Nick Williams, who played all 17 games for the Detroit Lions last season.

New York Giants defensive tackle Leonard Williams told reporters he doesn't believe his knee injury will be "too bad" after exiting during Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers.

Williams had two tackles before exiting with the injury and being ruled out.

The 28-year-old now has seven tackles in two games for the Giants in 2022.

The New York Jets selected the man nicknamed "Big Cat" with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. He played four-plus seasons for them before the Giants traded for him midway through the 2019 campaign.

Williams had a seven-sack, 68-tackle season in 2016 that led to his lone Pro Bowl appearance, but his best year was 2020, when he amassed a career-high 11.5 sacks and 30 quarterback hits for Big Blue. He was a disruptive force for a Giants team that sported a top-10 scoring defense.

The USC product has only missed a single game in seven-plus seasons. Williams' production and durability arguably make him the most valuable member of the New York defense.

His loss is a tough blow for a team that just recorded its eighth losing season in nine years and has entered a new era under general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.

If Williams is unable to suit up in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys, Nick Williams should be in line to see more playing time.

Williams is in his eighth NFL campaign. He served as a starting defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions over the past two years and amassed 50 tackles, five quarterback hits and 1.5 sacks.

New York Giants rookie defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux was forced to sit out the 2022 season opener against the Tennessee Titans because of a sprained MCL suffered in the second preseason game, but it sounds like he's nearly ready to return to the field.

Thibodeaux told reporters Thursday he believes he'll have the chance to make his Giants debut this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

"Getting close," Thibodeaux said. "Like I said, trying not to look too far—what is today? Today is Thursday—still have Friday, Saturday. I'm really confident in this Sunday."

Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Thibodeaux participated in team drills Wednesday. During the portion of Thursday's practice that was open to the media, the rookie was reportedly seen working on the side with a trainer and riding a stationary bike.

The No. 5 pick in this year's draft, Thibodeaux has high expectations to be the type of edge-rusher New York has needed. Fellow starting defensive end Azeez Ojulari also missed the opener after suffering a calf injury over the summer, and he was limited in Thursday's practice.

The Giants are hoping to have both their edge-rushers ready in time to face a Panthers offense led by quarterback Baker Mayfield and running back Christian McCaffrey.

"Well, you're talking about two first-round[-level talents], so it's a huge benefit," Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said about the prospects of Thibodeaux and Ojulari returning. "But no matter what, that game's going to get kicked off."

When Thibodeaux suffered the injury, it was expected that his recovery would take three to four weeks. The Giants only plan on playing him if he's fully healthy.

The 21-year-old knows he's not completely out of the woods, but he's staying positive ahead of Sunday.

"If I'm on the field, I'll be 100 percent," Thibodeaux said. "Right now, I'd say it's day-to-day. ... I'm very optimistic."

After back-to-back injury-plagued seasons in 2020 and 2021, Saquon Barkley looked primed to resume his superstar status in Week 1.

Former teammate Odell Beckham Jr. took notice.

Barkley paced the NFL in rushing yards in the opening week, ripping off 164 yards on the ground while adding another 30 on six receptions. He looked every bit as explosive as his brilliant rookie campaign in 2018, showing burst through the line and elusiveness once he hit the second level.

Barkley is now two years removed from an ACL tear that cost him 14 games in 2020 and left him somewhat limited early last season. He spent most of 2021 looking like a shell of himself, battling injuries and ineffectiveness as part of a frustrating campaign.

Beckham likely relates to Barkley on several levels as he rehabs from an ACL tear suffered during the Los Angeles Rams' Super Bowl LVI win. It's the second time Beckham has torn his ACL during his career, and he's expected to miss much of this season.

Watching Barkley thrive may give Beckham the motivation he needs to return to Pro Bowl levels.

Kadarius Toney fantasy managers may have been apoplectic about his lack of playing time in Week 1, but the second-year wideout doesn't appear worried.

"I get paid to play, not coach," he told reporters Wednesday. "I don't know what the plan was. At the end of the day, I have to prepare as if I was going and playing every play. I don't know what else to say."

Toney was on the field for just seven snaps in the New York Giants' 21-20 win over the Tennessee Titans despite being fully healthy. He recorded two rushing attempts for 23 yards and did not catch a pass.

The Florida product has been riddled with injuries over his brief NFL career. He missed seven games last season with various ailments and then was out for nearly the entire offseason program, first after undergoing knee surgery this spring and then after suffering a hamstring injury in training camp.

In the interim, Toney was seemingly passed up on the depth chart by nearly every receiver on the roster. Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, Richie James, David Sills and Wan'Dale Robinson all got more snaps than Toney in Week 1. Robinson's knee injury didn't appear to make much impact on Toney's playing time, either, as he was on the field for just five snaps after halftime.

Brian Daboll said Toney's lack of playing time had nothing to do with his health; the first-year Giants coach simply had more faith in the wideouts he put on the field. Daboll did acknowledge it's possible he shuffles up the rotation on a week-to-week basis.

"We'll see what happens this week," Daboll said Monday. "The guys that were out there, we have confidence in. We have confidence in Kadarius. I think, again, I've mentioned this before a couple of weeks ago with our receiver position: It's a competitive situation. And they'll be evaluated on a week-to-week basis. So, relative to inactives or playtime or amount of plays, everybody's got to earn their role. One week it might be a whole game; one week it might be less."

Toney, for his part, took the situation in stride. He said in no uncertain terms that he was not disappointed because the Giants came away with a win.

Saquon Barkley is officially back.

The superstar running back played a monster role in the New York Giants' 21-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Sunday's season opener at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Barkley rushed for 164 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries, caught six passes for 30 yards and converted a critical two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter to lift the Giants to victory.

Barkley's performance sent Twitter into a frenzy:

The Giants selected Barkley second overall in the 2018 NFL draft out of Penn State, and he went on to have an incredible rookie season, rushing for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns, in addition to catching 91 passes for 721 yards and four scores.

He went on to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year and earned a Pro Bowl nod.

During the 2019 campaign, he rushed for 1,003 yards and six scores and caught 52 passes for 438 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. He missed three games with a sprained ankle.

After two solid seasons to start his career, Barkley was slated to have a monster 2020 season. However, he tore his ACL in Week 2 and missed the remainder of the year.

The 25-year-old returned in 2021 but only appeared in 13 games because of another ankle injury. He rushed for 593 yards and two touchdowns and caught 41 passes for 263 yards and two scores.

Barkley entered this season back at full strength, and his performance Sunday is only a preview of what's to come.

New York Giants rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux is doubtful for the team's season opener Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

Thibodeaux has been dealing with a knee injury and has been limited in practice all week.

On Aug. 22, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thibodeaux was expected to be sidelined three to four weeks with a sprained MCL. The Giants were hopeful he would play Week 1.

"Fingers crossed," Giants head coach Brian Daboll said at the time. "Hopefully his rehab goes well and he can get out there as soon as he can."

The rookie defensive end suffered the injury in a preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Aug. 21 when he was cut-blocked by tight end Thaddeus Moss, who has since been released and is a free agent.

Thibodeaux was asked by reporters earlier this week if he thought Moss made a dirty play, but said he just wants to move on from the incident.

"I try not to think about the past," Thibodeaux said, adding that he spoke with Moss afterward. "I’m not really worried about it. We’re trying to move forward, trying to get better. Make sure you play with good technique. It’s football—100 percent injury rate."

The Giants selected Thibodeaux fifth in the 2022 draft out of Oregon, where he had a standout college career. During the 2021 season, he posted seven sacks, 49 tackles and 12 tackles for loss in 10 games.

If Thibodeaux can't suit up Sunday, Oshane Ximines and Tomon Fox figure to see more playing time.

The Giants will hope Thibodeaux can return for a Week 2 matchup against the Carolina Panthers at home.