Darius Alexander: Everything you need to know

Alexander totaled 20 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, and a defensed pass over 16 games (two starts) during the 2025 campaign. After being drafted by New York in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Alexander was a healthy scratch Week 1. However, he played in every contest the rest of the way and maintained a fairly steady rotational role. Alexander didn't get into the sacks column until he logged a half-sack in Week 8, but he concluded the campaign with 3.0 sacks over his final six contests. Alexander's strong finish could earn him consideration for a starting role next year.

Alexander tallied four tackles, including 2.0 sacks, in Sunday's overtime loss to Detroit. Alexander came into Sunday's contest with just a half-sack through his first 10 NFL games. He built upon that number considerably with a full sack of Jared Goff in each of the first and second quarters. Alexander also logged a season-high 51 percent defensive snap share, and his performance Sunday could help him earn more playing time moving forward.

Alexander (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Commanders, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports. The rookie third-rounder will be in street clothes for Sunday's regular-season opener, which leaves D.J. Davidson and Elijah Garcia to serve in rotation on the Giants' defensive line behind Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Dexter Lawrence and Roy Robertson-Harris. Alexander's next opportunity to make his NFL regular-season debut is Week 2 against the Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 14 in Dallas.