Giants get mixed news on Daniel Bellinger, Evan Neal injuries

The Giants lost significant players to injuries in Sunday’s 23-17 victory over the Jaguars and they received mixed news about them a day later. 

Rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger suffered a fractured eye socket and septum on his only reception of the game when he was inadvertently poked in the left eye by cornerback Tre Herndon. The impact drew blood and Bellinger’s left eye was swollen and completely shut. Bellinger will undergo surgery this week. The injury is not believed to be season-ending, but it will keep Bellinger off the field. 

“I think it’s probably too early to say when I expect him back,’’ coach Brian Daboll said Monday. “We’ll see how this thing goes. I’m hopeful for it but you never know when things like this happen.’’ 

Two offensive linemen, rookie right tackle Evan Neal and left guard Ben Bredeson went down in the first half. Neal was lost to a left knee injury early in the second quarter and he has been diagnosed with a medial collateral ligament sprain. Most likely, Neal will be out a minimum of three weeks. The Giants get a break in that their bye comes after Sunday’s game in Seattle. Neal will miss that game and probably the Week 10 game with the Texans. He could return the following week, against the Lions, if his knee heals quickly 

Bredeson sprained his right knee in the first quarter. Daboll called Bredeson and Neal week-to-week. 

Bellinger will not be easy to replace. A fourth-round draft pick out of San Diego State, Bellinger immediately worked with the starting offense in the summer and that continued into the season. Through seven games, he had 16 receptions for 152 yards, with two touchdowns. He also ran for one touchdown. The remaining tight ends on the roster are Tanner Hudson and Chris Myarick. Lawrence Cager, waived by the Jets on Oct. 15, last week was signed to the practice squad. 

“Any time one of your better players gets injured you always miss him but that’s why you have players on the roster — people are here for a reason,’’ Daboll said. “We have to find a way to use our pieces the best way we can.’’ 

Neal was replaced by Tyre Phillips, a 25-year-old who was a 2020 third-round pick of the Ravens. Phillips played 58 of the 77 offensive snaps against the Jaguars after playing only seven snaps in the first six games. 

Rookie Josh Ezeudu, a third-round pick from North Carolina, moved in for Bredeson and played 61 offensive snaps. He was used as a back-side pulling guard late in the game, when the Giants ran the same running play eight consecutive times to burn the clock before kicking a field goal. 

“I think they both did a good job,’’ Daboll said of Phillips and Ezeudu, crediting offensive line coach Bobby Johnson and assistant Tony Sparano Jr. for getting the players ready to play. 

“They were both ready to go and did a good job,’’ Daboll said. “I was pleased with how they responded to having to go in there and play.’’