Giants offensive guard Geoff Schwartz exited the contest versus Washington with a fractured lower leg. He has been ruled out, and will be heading to injured reserve according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (via Twitter).
The Giants will likely look to add an offensive lineman during the week, either in free agency or from their practice squad.
The entire offensive line has been finding it difficult to stay on the field. Former first-round pick Justin Pugh was already ruled out for today with a concussion, the second-straight game he missed with that injury. Schwartz had already moved to left guard to compensate for that. Center Weston Richburg is also missing with a high ankle sprain.
John Jerry, Dallas Reynolds, and rookie Bobby Hart are seeing unexpected playing time because of the rash of injuries to the interior of the offensive line. In fact, other that the two starting offensive tackles, backup Emmett Cleary is the only other offensive lineman on the active roster.
Schwartz struggled with injury for the Giants last year, when he played in only two games after signing a not insignificant free agent contract the previous offseason. The team has yet to get a return on investment for the four-year deal worth $16.8MM and $6.2MM guaranteed. If this injury is indeed season ending, it could put his future with the team in jeopardy.
And the free agent options, predictably, are pretty uninspiring. Tough break for a team that has a legitimate chance at the playoffs by virtue of a weak division.
A tough break considering how well he played in Kansas City in his contract year. Schwartz’s absence further weakens a depleted Giants line, one that was once a pleasant surprise.
The Giants would absorb almost $2MM in dead money by cutting Schwartz, so I don’t think they’ll let him go just yet. Still, never understood this signing from the beginning.