EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Jermaine Eluemunor has had an eventful first two days at training camp with the New York Giants.
Shortly after reporting on Tuesday, the Giants told the versatile veteran that he was being moved from left guard to right tackle because Evan Neal was not ready to take the field after offseason ankle surgery.
In the first practice during an 11-on-11 drill, the London-born lineman who played scholastically in New Jersey, collided with big Pro Bowl tackle Dexter Lawrence and took a blow to his midsection and rib area. He went down for a couple of minutes and had to leave the field.
Eluemunor had signed a two-year, $14 million contract in March, one of a number of moves general manager Joe Schoen made to revamp an offensive line that gave up a franchise-record 85 sacks last season. The fear was a major injury.
“Nothing serious,” coach Brian Daboll said Thursday. “It’s two men kind of colliding there accidentally.”
Eluemunor said he was trying to cut off Lawrence and the 6-foot-4, 340-pounder reacted.
“Dex thought he was being trapped so he obviously lowered his shoulder and it just so happened that he lowered his shoulder into my rib cage,” Eluemunor said. “So it wasn’t the most fun pain I’ve had to deal with, but I’m out here today, so that’s what really matters.”
Eluemunor didn’t practice Thursday. He stood next to new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo — his coach with the Raiders — and watched third-year lineman Josh Ezeudu play right tackle with the first team.
“We were just talking about my assignment, making sure I knew what I was doing, and just my little opinions on things, and what I would do differently in certain situations, and blocking assignments,” Eluemunor said of his discussions with Bricillo. “I’m just having to refresh everything now that I’m back at tackle. Like I said, I’m learning, but it’s more just me just asking them little schematic things, and him telling me the answers.”
Eluemunor said he’ll play any position the Giants need. Neal, who was drafted seventh overall in 2022, had surgery in January and is not expected to be sidelined much longer. He has been working out with the trainers during the first two days of camp.
For now, the revamped offensive line has Andrew Thomas at left tackle, Aaron Stinnie at left guard, second-year pro John Michael Schmitz at center, Jon Runyan Jr. at right guard and Ezeudu at right tackle. Stinnnie and Runyan were also signed as free agents.
The ability of the Giants’ receivers to get open has stood out in the opening two days of camp.
Quarterback Daniel Jones connected with first-round draft pick Malik Nabers and second-year pro Jalin Hyatt on long touchdown passes. Nabers also reached around No. 1 cornerback Deonte Banks, last year’s first-round choice, to make an impressive catch in the corner of the end zone.
“I like competing against Leek (Nabers),” Banks said. “It’s really fun. He’s good. He’s really explosive. Real quick. I like him.”
The two were matched against each other several times on Thursday.
“I love it,” Banks said. “We are just competing. We talk to each other, and it’s really fun. I already knew he was a talker. I’m always talking back. Every time.”
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