Giants Get Bad News on 2 Defensive Backs Ahead of Eagles Game
Giants cornerback Paulson Adebo has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
The Giants will be without some key members of their secondary on Sunday against the Eagles.
Safety Jevon Holland was downgraded to out and will not travel with the team to Philadelphia, the Giants announced Saturday. They were already planning to be without cornerback Paulson Adebo. Both players are dealing with knee injuries.
It’s a concerning development for New York’s defense, which gave up 33 points in the fourth quarter of last week’s stunning 33-32 loss to the Broncos.
What Holland’s Injury Means For the Giants
Holland is in his first season with the Giants after signing a three-year, $45.3 million contract in March. The former Dolphins star has been a slight disappointment through seven games, as Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranks him 47th out of 84 eligible safeties with a grade of 62.5. He has 28 tackles (16 solo) and three passes defended.
Holland, 25, had been listed as doubtful on Friday after missing his third straight practice.
Dane Belton is expected to start alongside Tyler Nubin in Holland’s absence. Belton has 36 tackles (17 solo) and one fumble recovery this season.
What Adebo’s Injury Means For the Giants
Adebo was another one of the big-ticket additions to New York’s defense this offseason. Signed to a three-year, $54 million deal in March, Adebo was expected to take over as the Giants’ No. 1 cornerback. But like Holland, he’s struggled to make plays in Shane Bowen’s defense.
Adebo, 26, had seven interceptions over the last two seasons with the Saints but is still waiting for his first as a Giant. In seven games, he has 48 tackles (41 solo) and four passes defended. He did not practice this week.
PFF ranks Adebo 91st out of 112 eligible cornerbacks with a grade of 52.3.
His absence means more opportunities for 2023 first-rounder Deonte Banks, whose role had been reduced due to poor play and lapses in effort.
Eagles Will Be Without All-Pro Receiver
The Giants (2-5) rank 26th against the pass and 29th in total defense (376 yards allowed per game). Replacing both Holland and Adebo will be difficult, but at least they won’t have to worry about defending star wide receiver A.J. Brown.
The three-time All-Pro will miss Sunday’s game because of a hamstring injury.
Cubs Face Crucial Decision On Shota Imanaga’s Contract — Breaking Down The Options
When the Chicago Cubs signed Shota Imanaga, the top line of the deal was four years and $53 million. But the deal is about as creative as one could imagine.
No, it’s not Shohei Ohtani creative. But this offseason does represent a real fork in the road for Imanaga and the Cubs, a franchise the former Japanese star wanted to play for so much that he stealthily slipped into Chicago before Cubs Con in 2023 to get a feel for the city before he signed the deal.
Now? He could end up being a rich man or a free agent. It isn’t just about the money. It’s about Imanaga’s future and whether he’s a fit for the Cubs for what could be the next three years. Chicago won’t have much time to make that decision after the World Series, either.
Shota Imanaga’s Contract Paths
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As presented by Jordan Bastian at MLB.com, the easiest thing the Cubs could do would be to trigger a club option to keep the left-hander. But it isn’t an ordinary option. Most contract options are year-to-year. This option, as written into the deal, is a three-year option. If Chicago triggers it, then it’s tied to Imanaga for three more seasons at a cost of $57.75 million.
That means the Cubs are comfortable with tying themselves to the 32-year-old for three more years. On paper, that works. He is 24-11 with a 3.28 ERA in 54 starts since he joined Chicago in 2023. But he’s spent time on the injured list both seasons, and he’ll be 35 at the end of the deal. The Cubs may not be comfortable with the money and his age.
If the Cubs aren’t comfortable, perhaps Imanaga is? By declining the option, the Cubs then put the lefty’s future in his hands. He would then have a one-year option that is worth $15.25 million. If Imanaga wants to stay at that cost, he can do so.
But it also triggers a different option for the Cubs. After the 2026 season, the three-year option would become a two-year option for Chicago, and the process would repeat.
That might be a good middle ground for the Cubs. But Imanaga may feel he’s worth more on the open market. Plus, by entering the market he would compete with San Diego’s Michael King, Houston’s Framber Valdez and San Diego’s Dylan Cease for the top free agent starting pitcher on the market.
The final option is both sides declining the option. In that case, the Cubs do have one final arrow in the quiver — the qualifying offer. Teams are allowed to make a qualifying offer to impending free agents. This year the QO is an estimated $22 million. Imanaga can take the money or turn it down. But, if another team signs Imanaga, then Chicago gets draft pick compensation.
Right now, Chicago has Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton and Javier Assad under contract. That is four-fifths of a starting rotation. Imanaga would complete it before the Cubs even hit free agency.
But that’s the question. Do the Cubs want Imanaga? Does Imanaga want the Cubs if they don’t trigger the option? Soon, the Cubs will have to figure that out.
