The New York Giants have been missing third-year right tackle Evan Neal at the start of this summer’s training camp. The former top-10 pick from 2022 was placed on the PUP list last week as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury that cut his 2023 season short.
Neal’s injury was initially thought to be just a sprain, but it was later revealed to be a small fracture. According to Pat Leonard of the NY Daily News, the Giants’ medical team initially misdiagnosed Neal’s injury as a sprain. Leonard also speculated that the recovery time might have been shorter, or surgery might have been avoided or performed sooner, if the correct diagnosis had been made initially.
Since Week 9 of last season, Neal has been recovering from this injury. The recovery time for Neal is notable when compared to another Giants player who was injured in the same game—quarterback Daniel Jones. While Neal is still unable to perform, Jones has fully participated in recent practices.
Neal’s career has had a challenging start. As a rookie in 2022, he missed four games due to a knee injury and was considered a liability on the field. His performance didn’t improve in 2023, with a low Pro Football Focus grade and significant pressures and sacks allowed.
Despite the struggles and some fans losing hope, Giants general manager Joe Schoen mentioned that Neal isn’t “far off” from returning to practice. If he can return soon and perform well in the summer, he may have a chance to secure his starting position. However, this third season will be crucial for Neal as he looks to turn his career around and remain with the Giants.
