The New York Giants suffered a major blow in their 21-6 Week 1 loss to the Washington Commanders, as linebacker is set to miss extended time with a foot injury.
Top contributor, a fourth-year standout from Indiana, has been one of New York’s most promising young defenders, coming off two strong seasons in a row.
NFL insider Mike Garafolo provided the latest update:
“Giants LB Micah McFadden will miss a significant portion of the season with a foot injury sustained against the Commanders, sources say. While initial X-rays came back negative, further tests revealed he’ll be sidelined for a while. The expectation is that it won’t keep him out for the entire year.”
If McFadden avoids a season-ending absence, that’s a huge boost for the Giants’ defense. Anchored by a dominant pass rush, New York has built one of the league’s elite units, and McFadden has been a steady force since 2023. He’s posted back-to-back years with over 100 tackles, including 60 solo stops, while also recording five career fumble recoveries and six sacks. His absence will unquestionably be felt.
In the meantime, Chris Board, Darius Muasau, and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles will be tasked with stepping in at right inside linebacker, while Bobby Okereke continues to hold down the left side. Fortunately for the Giants, the defense still has talent at every level.
On the offensive side, Brian Daboll has already confirmed that Russell Wilson will remain the starting quarterback for Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. The unit badly struggled in the opener, failing to score a touchdown and settling for just two field goals. If Wilson can’t turn things around soon, rookie Jaxson Dart could find himself in the starting role sooner than expected.