Giants' Xavier McKinney: Plagued by injury in third campaign
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McKinney played in nine games during the regular season, totaling 45 tackles (29 solo), including one sack. He added five defended passes and a forced fumble.
McKinney played every defensive snap for the Giants from Week 1 to Week 8 before injuring his left hand while on vacation in Mexico during New York's bye. The issue kept the third-year safety out of action until Week 17, when he played 83 percent of the team's defensive snaps and racked up seven tackles against the Colts. Despite the lengthy absence, McKinney's role as a starter upon his return was never in question, and as part of the Giants' young core, he will be looking for a contract extension with the final year of his rookie deal coming next season.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Likely to return Sunday
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The Giants activated McKinney (hand) from the reserve/non-football injury list ahead of Sunday's game against Indianapolis, Michael Eisen of the team's official site reports.
McKinney hurt his left hand in an ATV accident during the Giants' bye week and hasn't seen game action since Week 8. Coach Brian Daboll indicated earlier this week that McKinney wasn't likely to return to action against the Colts, but the safety was designated to return to practice Thursday and has now been activated just two days later. McKinney logged 100 percent of New York's defensive snaps in his eight games so far this season, but he could be on a snap count Sunday given the length of his absence.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Practice window begins
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The Giants announced Thursday that McKinney (hand) has been designated for a return to practice from the reserve/non-football injury list, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.
Coach Brian Daboll said Monday he doesn't expect McKinney to return in time for Sunday's contest against the Colts, but it's encouraging to see the safety at least resume practicing. New York will have a 21-day window to evaluate McKinney's health, and he can be fully activated at any point during that stretch.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Week 17 return unlikely
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Head coach Brian Daboll said Monday that McKinney's (hand) status hasn't changed, meaning he likely won't be activated from the reserve/non-football injury list prior to the Week 17 matchup against the Colts, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.
McKinney is now in line to miss an eighth consecutive game come New Year's Day, as he's been working his way back from the hand injury he sustained in an ATV accident while vacationing back in November. Julian Love and Jason Pinnock should continue operating as the Giants' starting safeties for the time being, while Tony Jefferson is slated to handle rotational secondary snaps.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Won't be activated for Week 16
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McKinney (hand) is not expected to be activated for Sunday's game against the Vikings, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.
The Giants reportedly still hope McKinney plays again before the end of the regular season, though he will only have two such opportunities after the conclusion of Saturday's contest against Minnesota. The 23-year-old safety continues to work his way back from a hand injury suffered in an ATV action while vacationing back in November, and he remains on the reserve/non-football injury list.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Not expected to play Sunday
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Coach Brian Daboll said McKinney (hand) won't practice Wednesday and isn't expected to play Sunday against Washington, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports.
McKinney, who sustained a hand injury during an ATV accident while on vacation in November, remains on the reserve/non-football injury list and will likely miss a sixth straight game. The 23-year-old safety is still expected to return this season, but the Giants have only three regular-season games left following Sunday's divisional showdown against the Commanders.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Expected to return this season
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McKinney, who was originally expected to miss the season after injuring his hand in an ATV accident, is planning to return later this season, Jordan Raanan of ESPN reports.
McKinney was placed on the non-football injury list Nov. 7 and will be eligible to make his return following this week's game against the Commanders. However, the 23-year old safety is still expected to be out for at least a few more weeks. This still comes as good news since there was previously no timetable for the defensive signal caller's return. McKinney should instantly improve a secondary that has struggled recently due to injuries and will look to help the team make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Shifts to reserve/NFI
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The Giants placed McKinney (hand) on their reserve/non-football injury list Monday.
It was previously reported that McKinney sustained a hand injury while on vacation and is expected to miss multiple weeks, per Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus. The 23-year-old was off to a solid start to his 2022 campaign, which included 38 tackles, one sack, four passes defensed and one forced fumble across the team's first eight games. Dane Belton will be the expected beneficiary for added reps while McKinney remains sidelined.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Notches first career sack
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McKinney totaled two tackles, including one sack, against Seattle in a Week 8 loss.
McKinney went untouched on a blitz and crushed Geno Smith late in the first half to record his first sack as a professional. However, he also finished with a season-low two tackles. McKinney has 38 tackles through eight games on the campaign, and he's yet to record an interception after leading New York with five last year.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Posts season-high nine tackles
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McKinney tallied nine tackles (five solo) in a Week 6 victory over the Ravens.
McKinney recorded five or six tackles in four of the first five weeks of the campaign, and he stepped up his production with a campaign-high nine tackles in Week 6. He's yet to force a turnover this season but did pick off five passes in 2021. He has the potential to be an IDP asset but hasn't quite panned out that way so far this season.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Consistent production to start year
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McKinney recorded six tackles (five solo) and one pass defense during Monday's 23-16 loss to the Cowboys.
McKinney has recorded at least five tackles in each of the first three games this season, giving him 16 total. Last year, the 2020 second-round pick broke out with 93 tackles and five interceptions, including one pick-six. He's yet to replicate that type of playmaking in 2022, but his consistent production to start the year has given him a solid fantasy floor moving forward.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Lands on COVID list
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The Giants placed McKinney on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday as an unvaccinated high-risk close contact.
McKinney landed on the list in early November, but he was quickly restored to the roster when his test result was determined to be a false positive. Though his latest placement on the list isn't the result of a positive, league protocols call for unvaccinated players to remain away from the team for at least five days if they're deemed to be a high-risk close contact of an infected person. As such, McKinney won't be eligible to report back to the Giants' facility until Saturday, one day before the team plays the Cowboys. McKinney should be available for the Week 15 contest if he continues to test negative for the virus over the next few days.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Tests positive for COVID
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McKinney tested positive for COVID-19, and his status for Week 9 is uncertain, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.
McKinney's vaccine status is unclear, but if he's vaccinated and able to return two negative tests within 24 hours, he will be able to play Sunday against the Raiders. Expect an update with the safety's vaccine status within the next couple of days. It's likely Logan Ryan will see an increased role Sunday if McKinney is unable to suit up.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Wraps rookie campaign with 25 stops
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McKinney notched 25 tackles (14 solo), one defended pass and one interception through six games in 2020.
McKinney missed much of his rookie campaign while recovering from offseason foot surgery, but he managed to carve out a large defensive role (over 50 percent of snaps) during the Giants' final three regular-season games. The 2020 second-round pick stands to get every chance to compete for a starting role come 2021.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Piles up eight tackles
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McKinney made eight tackles (seven solo) in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Ravens.
The rookie second-round pick put together his best tackling performance of the year and finished tied for second on the team in stops. McKinney figures to make his fourth straight start in the season finale against Dallas.
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Giants' Xavier McKinney: Hoping for November return
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McKinney (foot) hopes to retake the field after the Giants' bye week in late November, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.
McKinney underwent surgery on his fractured left foot, but it's possible that he won't lose his entire rookie campaign due to the injury. The second-round pick could make a return following the Giants' bye in Week 12, which would allow him roughly three months to get fully healthy. Prior to suffering the injury, McKinney looked primed to handle a key role in New York's secondary right off the bat.
