Brian Daboll
Bryan M. Bennett
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 09: Head Coach Brian Daboll of the New York Giants looks on prior to an NFL Preseason 2025 game between New York Giants and Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
On Sunday, in the New York Giants‘ season opener against the Washington Commanders, Giants starting LB Micah McFadden went down in the first quarter with what was described as a “serious” leg or foot injury. After being down on the field and attended to by trainers for several minutes, McFadden’s right leg was placed in an air cast and he was carted off the field.
On Tuesday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported that McFadden had a foot injury and would miss a “significant part of the season.” Apparently, x-rays done on Sunday were negative, but further testing revealed a serious injury to his right foot. Garafolo describes the Giants as “hoping” McFadden wouldn’t miss the entire season, and could return at some point later in it.
On Thursday, New York officially announced they had placed McFadden on Injured Reserve (IR). The move freed up space on the roster for recently-claimed WR Xavier Gipson, who had been waived by the Jets earlier in the week.
Who Will the New York Giants Turn to at Linebacker With Micah McFadden Out?
Micah McFadden
Jess Rapfogel/GettyLANDOVER, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 07: Micah McFadden #41 of the New York Giants is carted off the field during the first quarter during the game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on September 07, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
With McFadden set to miss an indeterminate amount of time, possibly the entire season, the focus turns to who will step up to replace him. Against the Commanders, Darius Muasau took over for McFadden, to mixed results. He gave up a touchdown, but the 2024 sixth-round pick held his own for the most part. Behind him, the Giants could turn to Chris Board or Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, as well.
The reality is, New York doesn’t have a great replacement for McFadden on the roster. Muasau isn’t the worst backup linebacker, but McFadden is critical to what the defense wants to do. Next to Bobby Okereke, he forms one of the league’s most underrated linebacker duos, capable in both run support and coverage.
If this defense is to live up to what it could be, McFadden will need to be out there.
Micah McFadden Was in Line for a Big Contract Extension
McFadden was off to a strong start in his NFL career. A fifth-round pick out of Indiana back in 2022, he played rotationally as a rookie before stepping into the starting lineup in 2023, where he’s been since.
In his second season in the league, McFadden had 101 tackles, a sack, an interception, five passes defensed, and four fumble recoveries. He followed that up last season with 106 tackles, three sacks, a pass defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. McFadden stuffs the stat sheet all over, and he’s been a bright spot on a bad Giants team over the last few seasons.
While his return this season isn’t guaranteed, the lack of a foot fracture is extremely good news. Foot injuries in general aren’t easy to come back from quickly, but that, at least, provides a small silver lining.