Chris Board and Stone Smartt
Getty
The New York Giants lost a coveted team leader amid an injury crisis.
Injury problems at inside linebacker aren’t going away for the New York Giants, with the spate of ailments claiming as its latest victim a rugged team leader Big Blue waited years to sign.
Veteran Chris Board, a noted special teams demon, was sent to injured reserve on Tuesday, September 14, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. Leonard also outlined the full extent of an injury crisis at the position, headlined by starter Micah McFadden already “being on IR,” with his replacement, Darius Muasau, “being in the concussion protocol.”
The #Giants placed ILB Chris Board on injured reserve. That’s on top of ILB Micah McFadden (foot) being on IR and ILB Darius Muasau being in the concussion protocol
So the team has signed LBs Neville Hewitt and Curtis Jacobs to the practice squad & signed LB Swayze Bozeman to…
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) September 16, 2025
Although the Giants have moved quickly to sign some veteran help, Board’s absence will be felt. Particularly in football’s third phase, where the Giants were vulnerable in key moments during Week 2’s 40-37 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys in overtime.
Giants Will Miss Coveted Newcomer
They had to let years pass before finally acquiring Board in free agency this offseason, but now the Giants are scrambling to move on without him. That’s going to be tough at the linebacker level, where the former Baltimore Ravens standout is a thumper with underrated athletic range in space.
Those qualities made Board a natural replacement for McFadden after the active run defender had his season curtailed by foot surgery. Muasau got the first chance to offset the absence of McFadden, but things improved when Board took to the field in Dallas.
This play, highlighted by Giants Nation Show and broken down by former Giants great and two-time Super Bowl winner Carl Banks, showed Board’s value to the front seven. As Banks put it, Board’s “job was to go and blow up the puller and make the runner bounce outside.. he did it TEXT BOOK.”
I encourage everyone to study what #49 Board does on this play. His job was to go and blow up the puller and make the runner bounce outside.. he did it TEXT BOOK.– Now you ask what was Banks & Holland doing? Their jobs.. playing with OUTSIDE LEVERAGE (remember.. Board kicked it… https://t.co/YFhUbfCuGO
— Carl Banks (@CarlBanksGIII) September 16, 2025
While Board couldn’t control the other multiple breakdowns that allowed Cowboys running back Javonte Williams to score, the linebacker’s physicality will be missed. Although not as much as Board’s expertise on special teams.
Chris Board Absence Depletes Struggling Special Teams
Board made himself an asset to the Ravens because of his efforts covering kicks. It’s an area where his replacement struggled against the Cowboys.
The Giants have already promoted Swayze Bozeman to the active roster, but the former Kansas City Chiefs ‘backer will need to do better on special teams. Bozeman was “called for holding to negate a 67-yard Gunner Olszewski kick return to open the game” at AT&T Stadium, according to Leonard.
Some dirty dancing from Giants LB Swayze Bozeman, called for holding to negate a 67-yard Gunner Olszewski kick return to open the game
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) September 14, 2025
This was one of a few missed opportunities and miscues the Giants were guilty of on special teams. Coordinator Michael Ghobrial’s unit was beset by penalties, while three Cowboys returners each averaged over 20 yards returning kickoffs, per Pro Football Reference.
A bigger problem was nobody on the Giants got near to blocking any of the four field foals converted by two-time Pro Bowler Brandon Aubrey. The All-Pro made kicks of 51 and 64 yards, with the latter sending the game into overtime.
What the Giants need is some splash plays in the kicking and return games. It won’t be easy to generate those without Board, but there’s room for new playmakers to emerge and take over the key dual role the 30-year-old occupied.