Giants' offensive line likely to be shuffled this week
The Giants have always searched for continuity on their offensive line. If nothing else, they have accomplished that this season. The Giants have had the same five starters in each of their 10 games thus far.
Tom Coughlin said that may be about to change.
With an injury to Justin Pugh (he did not practice on Wednesday with a calf strain) and the return of Geoff Schwartz, Coughlin will likely do some shuffling on the line. Not even his search for continuity will stop that.
"That would be a reasonable expectation," he said of wanting the same five starters on a week-to-week basis, "but at this point in time, we're trying to be the best that we can. We'll do whatever we have to do to get it that way."
In other words, Schwartz will be playing. Where? Coughlin wouldn't say. State secret. But most likely at right guard in place of John Jerry. Or maybe even right tackle if Pugh is unable to suit up against the Cowboys Sunday night. It seems unlikely the team would turn to Charles Brown, who played for Pugh against the 49ers and was, well, not good.
"We activated him," Coughlin said of Schwartz. "I would expect that he would be ready, I hope."
Of course, offensive line is different from other positions. Schwartz will have to be prepared to play all of the snaps. He can't be rotated in or inserted in sub packages like other players might be.
"That's what this week will be about," Coughlin said.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
