New York Giants Getting Healthier Along Offensive Line

The New York Giants offensive line will be without Geoff Schwartz this week, but could be getting help in Weston Richburg and Justin Pugh

The New York Giants suffered a big blow to their offensive line when Geoff Schwartz broke his leg and was subsequently placed on season-ending IR earlier in the week. That left a big hole on the interior of the Giants’ offensive line, but they could be getting some help there this week.

Weston Richburg and Justin Pugh have both practiced for two consecutive day, and their status for the game this weekend against the New York Jets is improving. Both players missed the game against the Washington Redskins last week, and they were missed. The Redskins were able to shut down the Giants’ running game and get pressure on Eli Manning continually as the Giants were down those two starters and then eventually Schwartz.

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Richburg originally injured his ankle against the New England Patriots. It was sprained bad enough that he missed last week despite a bye week being in between. Pugh got sick from post-concussion syndrome before the Patriots game, missing that game and then not being able to suit up this past week against the Redskins either.

According to Dan Graziano of ESPN New York, Richburg’s issue is all about pain tolerance. If he is able to tolerate the pain, he will suit up. It is encouraging that he was able to make it through multiple practices this week, as he only practiced Wednesday last week before shutting it down. “We’ll see how it holds up Saturday. Today was a good day though,” Richburg said when talking to reporters earlier today.

Pugh also said he was feeling good after being able to practice for the second consecutive day. Concussions are always a difficult thing to deal with, but if Pugh doesn’t suffer a setback he looks poised to take the field Sunday.

The Giants have to be happy that the status for Richburg and Pugh are looking up. The offensive line struggled mightily without them in the lineup last week, and with Schwartz now sidelined it would have been even worse this week.

It also helps because the Giants may need to go into their bench at right tackle. Marshall Newhouse, who has started every game this season at right tackle for the Giants, has not practiced this week because of a back injury. His status looks very doubtful for Sunday, which means the Giants could go with rookie Bobby Hart or second year player Emmett Cleary. The Giants could choose to move Pugh back there, as he played there the first two seasons of his career, but will probably leave him at guard to keep some type of continuity along the unit.

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John Jerry will enter the lineup for Schwartz at right guard, meaning the Giants are weak on that side. That would be the only thing to make the Giants entertain using Pugh at right tackle, as the right side with Jerry and either Cleary or Hart would be very vulnerable to the attacking defense of Todd Bowles and the Jets.

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