Training camp is here, and Evan Neal still isn’t ready to go.
The Giants placed their former No. 7 overall pick and projected starting right tackle on the physically unable to perform list Tuesday as veterans reported to East Rutherford, N.J.
This is disappointing but not surprising. Neal, 23, barely did anything on the field late in the Giants’ spring program. And Monday’s free agent visit by guard Greg Van Roten signaled that something was amiss with the Giants’ front five ahead of Wednesday’s first open practice.
Neal has been rehabilitating a surgically repaired left ankle that was initially misdiagnosed as a sprain. He did limited and individual reps early in the spring, but he was noticeably dialed back and separate from the rest of the team late during OTAs into minicamp.
Head coach Brian Daboll said on June 11 that “you’ll see [Neal] at training camp.”
Asked if Neal had a setback, Daboll said: “He’s kind of about the same. He’s about the same. We’re going to back off him here and … the plan is right now … I think we should have everybody ready to go for training camp, which is important. We’re going to be smart with a few people. Then hopefully once training camp [on] July 24 hits, unless something happens between now and then, hopefully we’ll have everybody.”
With Neal sidelined at the start of training camp, it will be interesting to see if Joe Schoen and Daboll keep free agent signing Jermaine Eluemunor at left guard — where he spent the entire spring — or if Eluemunor will get kicked outside to right tackle. That’s where he played all of last season for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Schoen, Daboll and new O-line coach Carmen Bricillo want to play their starting five together as early as possible to build chemistry, but they also need to have players healthy for the regular season.
Neal, at least, will be eligible to come off the PUP list whenever he passes a physical. So as soon as he’s healthy enough to be back on the field and eligible to play, he will be.
Corner Aaron Robinson, meanwhile, was also placed on the PUP list Tuesday. And two players declared non-football injury: free agent safety signing Jalen Mills and corner Stantley Thomas-Oliver.
