ARLINGTON, Texas — The Giants are facing life with a new starting center.
Jon Halapio won the job with a strong spring and summer, but after Sunday night, the Giants will have a new starter there. Halapio went down in the third quarter and was carted off the field with his right leg immobilized. He went in for X-rays for a lower leg injury and there was not much optimism after the 20-13 loss to the Cowboys that Halapio will be back anytime soon.
Veteran John Greco, 33, moved in at center after Halapio was injured and will likely be the long-term replacement. He has far more experience at guard during his 11-year career, but started games at center when he was with the Browns.
There was one other injury of note for the Giants. Cornerback Eli Apple departed with a groin injury in the third quarter. The severity of the injury is critical as Apple was playing well before he got hurt, and the Giants are extremely thin at corner.
In the second quarter, Eli Manning did something he had not done in eight years. Coach Pat Shurmur twice went for it on fourth down and both times the call was a Manning quarterback sneak. He gained 2 yards on the first attempt and 1 yard on the second, picking up the first down on both runs. “Coach Shurmur and I have talked about it before, had it in the offense and practiced it some,’’ Manning said. “Came up twice. So we did whatever it takes to get first downs.’’
The last time Manning kept the ball on a sneak? The 2010 season.
Rookie RB Saquon Barkley’s 14 receptions broke the Giants single-game franchise record held by Tiki Barber, who had 13 catches Jan. 2, 2000, also at Dallas. … Desperate times call for desperate actions. With the Giants trailing 13-3 late in the third quarter, Odell Beckham Jr. went back to field a punt. He returned it 3 yards. … Kerry Wynn got the start at outside linebacker in place of Connor Barwin. … Punt returner Kaelin Clay had a rough outing and was forced out in the second quarter with an ankle injury. He was able to return. … With the loss, the Giants are 0-2 for the fifth time in the last six years.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott said film study gave him confidence he could run the ball on the Giants defense.
“We knew this defense was going to give us that,’’ Prescott said. “We knew they were going to give us the option for the quarterback to run. I’m a bigger guy, I’m going to challenge some of those defensive backs to make tackles.’’
Prescott gained a career-high 45 yards on seven rushing attempts.