As the Giants attempt to push for the NFC East division crown over the last four weeks of the 2015 season, the team will be without one of its offensive playmakers, as well as a key special-teamer. The team announced today that it has placed tight end Larry Donnell and long snapper Zak DeOssie on the injured reserve list, ending their seasons. Donnell suffered a neck injury last month, while DeOssie is battling a wrist injury.
Donnell, who hasn’t seen the field since going down on November 1, grabbed 29 balls for 223 yards and two touchdowns in eight games this season. It’s not clear whether his neck injury is one that will affect his career in the long term, but there always appeared to be little chance he’d get back on the field this season. Today’s move confirms that.
DeOssie, meanwhile, is one of the Giants’ longest-tenured players, having served as the team’s long snapper since being drafted in the fourth round in 2007. A two-time Pro Bowler, and one of the club’s captains, the 31-year-old had never missed a game due to injury until now. DeOssie is a free agent at season’s end, but I’d expect the two sides to work out a deal to keep him in New York going forward.
Replacing Donnell and DeOssie on the Giants’ 53-man roster are cornerback Tramain Jacobs and long snapper Danny Aiken. Jacobs had been on the club’s practice squad, while Aiken recently landed back on the free agent market after being cut by the Panthers.
With the Vikings, Panthers and the Eagles (always troublesome for the Giants), Big Blue could well end up with a top-10/12 pick instead of in the playoffs. There have been too many injuries for a team that had middling talent when everyone was healthy.