GIANTS

NY Giants captain Nick Gates carted off with serious left leg injury vs. Washington

Art Stapleton
NorthJersey.com

LANDOVER, Md. - Nick Gates is the most valuable player on the New York Giants' offensive line, and now they'll have to find a way to play without him.

Gates sustained a gruesome lower left leg injury in the first quarter Thursday night and he was immediately declared out of the game by the team. The injury was confirmed as a lower left leg fracture.

Gates played every snap last season, and he was voted a captain this year for his leadership and presence up front. The entire Giants sideline emptied on to the field and surrounded Gates, who was being tended to by the medical staff. He left via cart with an air cast to protect the injury.

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The Giants made a move up front that they hope will strengthen the running game as Gates slid to left guard and Billy Price, acquired in a swap for B.J. Hill from the Bengals two weeks ago, started at center.

Ben Bredeson replaced Gates at left guard.

The decision to move Gates after he played every snap at center last season - his first at the position - has a lot to do with Shane Lemieux's ability to get his injured knee right. The Giants placed Lemieux on injured reserve on Thursday, and they signed center Matt Skura to the active roster. Skura, who most recently played with the Ravens and Dolphins, was on the Giants' practice squad.

The Giants are taking a bit of a risk inserting a new center (Price) into the lineup against Washington, which features arguably the best defensive line in football with Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Deron Payne and Jon Allen.

But they saw a deficiency in their run blocking last week, and want to have more of an impact on the ground as they try to pave the way and take some pressure off Daniel Jones.

Art Stapleton is the Giants beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Giants analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and sign up for our NFC East newsletter.  

Email: stapleton@northjersey.com 

Twitter: @art_stapleton