Report: Giants RG Geoff Schwartz likely headed to short-term IR
By Dan Zinski
Geoff Schwartz is taking it week-to-week as he returns from a dislocated toe, but the Giants can’t afford to wait and see on Schwartz and may choose to place the right guard on IR with a return designation.
More from New York Giants
- Raiders: Saquon Barkley’s new contract may have screwed over Josh Jacobs
- 3 reasons the NY Giants won Saquon Barkley contract negotiations
- Saquon Barkley’s new contract is an L for NFL running backs: Best memes and tweets
- Austin Ekeler leading RB revolt with Zoom meeting of biggest names
- Giants newest WR addition feels like spray-and-pray tactic
In fact, Kimberly Jones of NFL.com says it’s likely that Schwartz will be placed on IR with the special designation to return. Short-term IR would mean that Schwartz would have to sit out until at least week 9.
NFL teams are allowed to use the to-return designation only once during the season, and must designate the player to return at the time he is placed on IR.
Schwartz was signed to a four-year/$16.8 million deal to provide an upgrade on the offensive line, but suffered a dislocated toe in a preseason game against the Jets.
It was originally feared that Schwartz might be lost for the season, but after consulting a specialist it was learned that Schwartz did not require surgery and would instead hope for the injury to heal.
At last report, Schwartz was in a walking boot and hoping for a speedy recovery.
With the team facing final cuts this weekend, the Giants may have no choice but to shut down Schwartz for the first 8 weeks of the season.
The former Panthers, Vikings and Chiefs offensive guard is seen as a vital part of the Giants’ offensive retooling under new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo.
The Giants offense has struggled this preseason and quarterback Eli Manning has not looked good, but it’s still early yet.