New York Giants Lose Jameel McClain ‘For A While’
Training camp has been unkind to the New York Giants in the early going as the injuries are beginning to pile up. Veteran linebacker Jameel McClain is the latest casuality, suffering a stinger in practice.
This time of the year for NFL teams is supposed to be one filled with optimism and high hopes. But for the New York Giants, those feelings are already beginning to fade as injuries are already mounting. The offensive line has already been hit hard, as they are without four of five projected starters. That is not the only area getting crushed, as the linebacker unit suffered a big blow with Jameel McClain being sidelined.
Coach Coughlin said LB Jameel McClain, who suffered a stinger yesterday, will have to sit for a while. #GiantsCamp
— New York Giants (@Giants) August 6, 2015
A stinger is somewhat of a common injury in contact sports like football, when people are running into each other at high speeds. But for a player such as McClain, this can be a serious problem. McClain has had his own injury problems in the past, as he suffered a spinal cord injury in 2012 when playing with the Baltimore Ravens.
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The Giants saw last season the severity of what a stinger can do, as David Wilson suffered one during his return from a neck injury and was forced to retire. McClain does not seem to be on a path of retirement at this time, but you can be sure that the Giants will take their time bringing him back to the field. He was able to get off the field and walk off under his own power, but we probably won’t be seeing him on the field for some time to come.
With McClain now sidelined, it puts that much more of an emphasis on the health of starting middle linebacker Jon Beason. McClain was being used as his direct backup when not flanking him in the starting lineup, so the Giants have to keep Beason’s reps in check now to protect him from injury as well.
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Should Beason go down, the Giants would see a huge gap in talent as Mark Herzlich would most likely take over in the middle. Herzlich has improved during his time with the Giants, but that would be a lot to overcome for a defense lacking many leaders or veterans currently.
J.T. Thomas becomes a player to watch now for the Giants at linebacker. He was expected to battle it out with McClain for the starting spot, and with him now sidelined the job seems to be his to lose. His coverage ability is something the Giants like on the outside with thumpers Beason and Devon Kennard next to him. Thomas now becomes an integral part of what the Giants are doing at linebacker as he is looking at an increased role for the next couple of weeks.
Will he be able to handle it? The loss of McClain will hurt both on the field and off, as his leadership and veteran presence is part of why he was brought back to the Giants. His loss will be felt for as long as he is sidelined.
Next: Who was the best Giant of 2014?