The Philadelphia Eagles are getting ready to continue their title defense against their division rivals in the New York Giants. The Thursday Night contest kicks off week six of the 2025 season, and Philadelphia is trying to improve to 5-1.
As it turns out, New York will be without a key player.
For Thursday Night Football, the Eagles catch a huge break against the Giants (Breaking News)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) goes after Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) just before sacking him in the second quarter, Sunday, January 7, 2024.
The New York Giants will be without Darius Slayton for Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles:
Slayton, who strained his hamstring in New York’s 26-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome, was ruled out by for the Giants’ Week 6 game against their NFC East rivals at MetLife Stadium.
The veteran wide receiver is third on the Giants in receiving yards (166) this season — and second to Wan’Dale Robinson among Giants players that are on the active roster. Malik Nabers leads the Giants in receiving yards but was placed on injured reserve after tearing his ACL in New York’s 21-18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 28.
Dec 25, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) runs for a touchdown past Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship (32) after a catch during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Eagles may be in the middle of the pack at defending the pass, but they will not have much to defend with both Slayton and Nabers out.
The Giants are 28th in points per game (17.4) this season — and only an outlier 506-yard, 37-point performance against the Dallas Cowboys are keeping them from being the worst offense statistically.
Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart is averaging just 157 yards per start since taking over for Russell Wilson in Week 4 — and Slayton registered 75 of Dart’s 313 passing yards so far.
Plus, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has made a career at dialing up schemes to limit quarterbacks — and they have the personnel to keep Dart at bay, even with Jalen Carter likely to miss the game due to a heel injury.
Dart will be missing 30 combined receptions from Nabers and Slayton. The Giants may end up starting two wideouts, Jalin Hyatt and Gunner Olszewski, that do not have a catch in 2025.
Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) catches the ball during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Here is a look at Slayton’s stats this season:
Oct 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) runs after a catch as Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) chases during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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