The Giants were eliminated from the postseason Thursday, and they suffered a number of injuries on the defensive line. Dexter Lawrence exited the contest, and if he returns in 2024, he will do so while dealing with a pain management situation.
Lawrence suffered a dislocated elbow on Thanksgiving, as Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post detailed. The two-time Pro Bowler said an X-ray on the injury came back negative, but an MRI is pending. If a lengthy recovery timetable is in place, it would be no surprise if Lawrence were to be shut down.
Five games remain in New York’s season, and a stint on injured reserve would leave the 27-year-old unavailable for at least the next four contests. With the Giants’ attention increasingly turning to the draft now that the playoffs are officially out of reach, playing Lawrence could incur an unnecessary risk of further injury. The Clemson product has only missed two games to date during his career.
Lawrence posted a league-leading nine sacks during the first seven games of the campaign, setting a new career high and further cementing his status as an instrumental member of the Giants’ defense. The former first-rounder has been held without a sack over the past five contests, but he has remained an impactful contributor against the run amidst other injuries suffered along the D-line. D.J. Davidson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches also exited yesterday’s game, so being without Lawrence the rest of the way could leave the unit particularly shorthanded. Three more years remain on Lawrence’s $22.5M-per-year extension, so taking a long-term approach concerning his recovery would be feasible from the team’s perspective.
“I’m breathing, I’m smiling. As far as the game, I’ll be back,” Lawrence said. “Don’t really know a timeline right now, but I fight through a lot, so no telling. My journey now is to be able to recover and come back.”
