Giants Evan Engram leaves game with calf injury in second quarter

New York Giants tight end Evan Engram was ruled out of their preseason game against the New England Patriots following a calf injury he sustained in the second quarter. Engram could be seen limping to the locker room after the injury.

This is the play where Evan Engram got hurt, grabbed his calf it seems.

Will get more later on. pic.twitter.com/qzfeqMzSYz

— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) August 29, 2021

Giants’ Evan Engram injury

While setting a routine block, Engram immediately reached for his leg in an awkward running motion. Engram’s leg appeared to not touch any part of the defender so the injury is considered non-contact, a very concerning type of leg injury.

“Evan Engram has been ruled out of the game with a calf injury. Not good,” reported NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on the injury.

Engram’s injury comes at a time the Giants needed him most, with fellow tight end Kyle Rudolph still recovering from foot surgery he underwent during the offseason. Engram has played 50 games for the Giants over his first four years in the NFL.

While the addition of Rudolph introduced a position battle, Engram was still on track to make a large contribution to the Giants offense. With Rudolph’s status still unclear for week one, potentially losing Engram creates a new problem for the Giants as they start their season.

Engram’s production

Engram’s first four seasons saw him tally up 2,420 yards and 13 touchdowns as a reliable receiving option. Engram’s versatility even saw him used in the running game for the Giants, including his first career rushing touchdown in the 2020 season.

The former tight end for Ole Miss was drafted by the Giants 23rd overall in 2017. He made the 2017 NFL All-Rookie team in his first year, and in 2020 reached his first Pro Bowl.

The beginning of his NFL career showed his ability to compete at any level that he developed at Ole Miss. Even his stats were consistent, reaching 2,320 yards and 15 touchdowns in his four-year college career.