Giants fourth-year LB facing lengthy absence

Micah McFadden suffered a foot injury during the New York Giants’ season opener. The fourth-year linebacker is facing a lengthy absence as a result.

McFadden is set to miss a “significant” portion of the 2025 campaign, as first reported by Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Surgery is now on tap, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan adds. McFadden is considered likely to return at some point this season, per Raanan.

Even so, losing the 25-year-old will deal a blow to New York’s defense. McFadden played a rotational role during his rookie season before becoming a full-time starter the following year. His snap share jumped once more in 2024, reaching 75%. Another impactful campaign was expected in McFadden’s case for this season, the final one of his rookie contract.

Micah McFadden's injury impacts his market value

As a pending free agent, the timing of McFadden’s injury is particularly troublesome. The former fifth-rounder’s market value will be dictated in large part by his play in 2025, but that will prove to be a small sample size. In McFadden’s absence, Darius Muasau — selected in the sixth round of last year’s draft — took over as a starter on defense in Week 1. That could continue moving forward, although other options will be explored at the second level of the Giants’ defense.

When speaking to the media on Thursday, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said (via Raanan) the team has “got to consider” using Abdul Carter as a weakside linebacker in the wake of losing McFadden. Carter, this year’s No. 3 overall pick, worked exclusively as an edge rusher last season and thrived in that capacity. The Penn State product previously saw time as a linebacker; however, a part-time role in that regard could be feasible.

The Giants have Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux in place as starters along the edge, something that led to questions entering the season about Carter’s workload. He handled a 50% snap share in Week 1, and Bowen noted that wit ill change on a week-to-week basis. Given McFadden’s absence for the foreseeable future, it will be interesting to see if Carter’s rookie campaign winds up including responsibilities at more than one position.