Giants ironman Landon Collins found the injury he can’t play through
Not long after the Giants needed overtime to defeat the Bears, safety Landon Collins stood in front of his locker inside MetLife Stadium and showed he was able to lift his arm all the way up into the air. But he acknowledged the shoulder injury he sustained in the game was significant.
“It’s really sore,” he said.
Collins underwent further testing, and he will not be able to play Sunday against the Redskins at FedEx Field, The Post confirmed, meaning Collins will miss his first game this season and the Giants’ defense will be without a player who never comes off the field. NFL Network was first to report Collins will not play this weekend.
The injury forced Collins to miss 11 of the 82 defensive snaps against the Bears. He is a Giants ironman, having played, and started, 59 of the 60 Giants games since he arrived as a 2015 second-round pick from Alabama. The only game he missed was the 2017 regular-season finale after he fractured his forearm the week before. Collins played through an ankle injury last season and prefers to fight off any physical issues and not miss any time.
“It depends on what the injury is,” Collins said. “A shoulder injury calls for tackling. So it’s more of tackling and getting guys down, trying to push through and run. Last year I had an ankle injury, so it’s more of not twisting it or planting the wrong way. It has its ups and downs. It depends on how you feel during the game or after.”
There is some doubt as to whether Collins will play again this season.
Collins, 24, leads the Giants with 96 tackles. He has his issues in coverage, but as a strong safety, his presence as a run-stopper is considerable. Collins is set to become a free agent after the season.
Safety is far from a position of strength for the Giants. Veteran Michael Thomas has been used more frequently the past few weeks in a hybrid safety/linebacker role. Curtis Riley, the starting free safety, has not distinguished himself in his first year with the team. Rookie Sean Chandler figures to receive expanded playing time in Collins’ absence.
