The New York Giants have enough injury issues at cornerback at this point in training camp that they might be looking outside for help.
“CB Dru Phillips has a mild knee sprain but will miss some time,” ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan wrote on his official X account on Thursday. “CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse also didn’t practice again and is dealing with a nagging knee problem. Coach John Harbaugh said the Giants might sign another cornerback.”
Phillips was a 2024 3rd-round pick (No. 71 overall) who has started 14 games over the last 2 seasons and shown a penchant for making big plays. In his 1st 31 career games he has 127 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 15 pass deflections.
The injury was suffered during Wednesday’s practice.
“Giants starting defense gave up TDs on 3 straight plays inside 5 YL to second team offense,” Giants reporter Ryan Dunleavy wrote on his official X account on Wednesday. “On the third, slot CB Dru Phillips injured his lower right leg and was down for a while before trying to jog to the side with trainers … Ar’Darius Washington replaced him.”
“Giants nickel Dru Phillips left practice with an apparent lower leg injury, but John Harbaugh said he thought it was ‘something small’ and that he’d be fine,” USA Today’s Art Stapleton wrote on his official X account on Wednesday.
Dru Phillips Projected as Day 2 Pick
NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein correctly predicted Phillips would be a 2nd- or 3rd-round pick out of Kentucky, where he was a 2-year starter.
Phillips came perilously close to dropping out of the 1st 3 rounds when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds — anything 4.50 seconds or above probably would have taken him off most teams’ draft boards.
“Phillips’ tape features a high number of both completions and drops that should have been completions, but that could change in a different scheme and with additional experience,” Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “He’s still green, with just two years of real game experience, and often played too loose in Kentucky’s zone cover schemes. Phillips lacks the anticipation to contest catches at a high enough rate from zone but does have the athleticism to play more man coverage, with the tools to stay sticky on routes. He’s an ardent run supporter with excellent toughness but needs to finish tackles at a higher rate. Scheme fit might be critical, along with proving he can play from the slot, but his best football could be ahead of him.”
Harbaugh Brought Washington Over From Ravens
Washington was 1 of the many players that Harbaugh brought over with him from the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, where he was the head coach for 18 years and won the Super Bowl following the 2012 season.
“Sources: The #Giants are expected to sign former Ravens (safety) Ar’Darius Washington to a 1-year deal,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account on March 9. “Washington has been in Baltimore since 2021 and now follows John Harbaugh to New York … Safety Ar’Darius Washington started 10 games for Baltimore in 2024 before suffering a torn Achilles. He returned late last season to appear in four games and is prepared for a full offseason to get ready for the 2026 season.”
Talented Giants’ 14-Game Starter Suffers Injury Setback