Jordan RaananSep 8, 2025, 04:05 AM
CloseJordan Raanan covers the New York Giants for ESPN and can be heard hosting on ESPN Radio. Raanan joined ESPN in 2016.
New York Giants starting linebacker Micah McFadden was carted off the field and ruled out with a leg/foot injury suffered in the first quarter of Sunday’s season opener against the Washington Commanders.
McFadden was injured while making a tackle on Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. His right leg was placed in an air cast, and he was taken off the field on a cart. He waved to the crowd as he exited to gracious applause.
McFadden was replaced by second-year linebacker Darius Muasau. The Commanders immediately took advantage, finding tight end Zach Ertz matched against Muasau for a touchdown on the very next play.
Giants linebacker Micah McFadden, who had a career-high 107 tackles last season, was carted off in New York’s opener with a leg/foot injury. Peter Casey-Imagn Images
The Giants originally selected McFadden in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft. He became a full-time starter in 2023.
McFadden had started 14 games each of the previous two seasons. He racked up over 100 tackles each of those years, including a career high 107 last season.
This was supposed to be a big year for McFadden with his rookie deal set to expire at the end of the season. He said he wasn’t focused on a new contract, but instead putting together a good season.
“I think there’s a lot of things that I can focus on to get better,” he said at the beginning of the summer. “There hasn’t been anything yet [with the contract] and I’m just focused on what we’re doing right now.”