The New York Giants will visit the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday afternoon in Week 10, where they will look to pick up an upset and get back on the winning track. But they will be without several players, including, potentially, right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor.
Eluemunor, who was inactive in Week 9 due to a pectoral injury, missed practice on Wednesday but participated on a limited basis on both Thursday and Friday.
New York will enter the game banged up, with several players already on injured reserve (IR) and several more ruled out or doubtful: Cornerback Paulson Adebo (knee, out), kicker Graham Gano (neck, out), and center John Michael Schmitz (shin, out), among others.
Eluemunor missed three straight practices with a pectoral injury last week and was inactive against the San Francisco 49ers after being listed as doubtful. He missed Wednesday’s practice before returning on a limited basis both Thursday and Friday.
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“I don’t think so, but not one hundred percent,” head coach Brian Daboll said on Wednesday when asked if Eluemunor or any other player had a long-term injury.
On Friday, Daboll expressed hope that Eluemunor and some others would play in Week 10.
“Hopeful for (Cor’Dale) Flott, hopeful for (Jevon) Holland, hopeful for Eluemunor,” he said. “Today will be a good day for those guys. And then some other guys, I’m hopeful, but I don’t know if they’ll make it.”
Eluemunor was officially listed as “questionable” on the final injury report.
Eluemunor was not made available to reporters this week and doesn’t appear to have conducted any one-on-one interviews. He has also been quiet on social media, which is a change for the usually-interactive offensive tackle.
The Giants elevated kicker Younghoe Koo and wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud from their practice squad, which is an encouraging sign despite the Giants carrying so many offensive linemen on their active roster. Also encouraging is that Eluemunor traveled with the team to Chicago.
Who would replace Jermaine Eluemunor in the lineup?
The Giants seem to have found an anchor at right tackle in Eluemunor, who signed during free agency last season. He’s finally playing a single position and doesn’t have to worry about moving around, which has only facilitated improved play.
In Week 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Eluemunor had his best game of the season, posting a Pro Football Focus grade of 75.5, which includes a pass protection grade of 84.7. With left tackle Andrew Thomas healthy and also playing at a high level, the Giants have a strength in their tackles.
If Eluemunor is inactive at gametime on Sunday, rookie offensive lineman Marcus Mbow will draw the start, as he did in Week 9 against the 49ers.
The good news? All signs point to Eluemunor starting in Week 10.
