The New York Giants are preparing to face the Washington Commanders in a battle of two of the NFL’s worst teams on Sunday, but because it’s an NFC East matchup, bragging rights are still on the line.
The Giants are trying to avoid being swept by the Commanders, and with Jayden Daniels out, New York has a great opportunity to score a win at home.
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However, the Giants’ chances just took a hit on Friday, as star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence was added to the injury report due to a hamstring injury, the team announced. He is listed as questionable for Sunday.
Lawrence has certainly not been himself this year, having logged just 24 tackles, a half of a sack and an interception thus far. He has been battling an elbow issue, and now, his lower body is apparently giving him problems, as well.
But even with Lawrence not playing up to par in 2025, New York will still sorely miss him if he is unable to take the field this week. The Giants do not have good depth on their interior defensive line, and even with Lawrence in the lineup, Big Blue has laid claim to the worst rushing defense in the NFL.
Lawrence is in his seventh season with New York and has made three straight Pro Bowl appearances. That streak will definitely come to an end this year, but there is no doubt that when healthy, Lawrence is one of the best defensive linemen in football.
The former first-round pick has two years remaining on his contract with the Giants and has been floated by some as a potential trade candidate for New York, but the chances of the G-Men actually moving Lawrence seem rather slim.
And to be quite frank, beating Washington on Sunday wouldn’t really benefit the Giants. New York currently owns the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and a win over the Commanders would sabotage their draft position.
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The Giants are just 2-11 on the season, but have been very competitive in most of their losses. With their schedule easing up over the final few weeks of the campaign, it stands to reason that New York may end up winning a couple of games down the stretch, which would absolutely be detrimental to its offseason plans.
So maybe Lawrence potentially missing Week 15 wouldn’t be so bad after all.
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