Giants getting major injury reinforcements for Week 13 showdown vs Commanders

The Washington Commanders have won six of seven and would travel to Minnesota to play the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs if the season ended today. While riding an incredible wave of momentum, Washington needs to remain grounded, as they face the biggest game of their season Sunday on the road against the New York Giants.

Remember all the head-scratching that took place when Washington’s 2022 schedule was announced? Well, it’s come full-circle. The anomalous stretch where they play the Giants twice in a three-week span has arrived.

By the end of it, the Commanders could be in pole position to secure a postseason berth. Or, they could fumble the bag and have serious ground to make up over the final three games against Cleveland, San Francisco and Dallas.

One game at a time, though, right?

The Commanders have opened as -1.5-point road favorites. While a telling number, the line could change as we get closer to Sunday, as the Giants are getting major injury reinforcements for this mammoth of a matchup.

On Monday, Brian Daboll and Co. designated Azeez Ojulari, Ben Bredeson, and Tony Jefferson to return from injured reserve.

The Giants are getting some key players back from injury for Week 13’s huge game against the Commanders.

Ojulari is the big takeaway there. Though oft-injured early in his career, Ojulari is capable of wrecking any game.

As a rookie, the Georgia product compiled eight sacks (a Giants rookie record), eight tackles for loss and 13 QB hits, 47 pressures and 27 hurries. His potential return means the Giants’ defensive line could be at full-strength with Ojulari, Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, and budding rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux.

The return of Bredeson is a sneaky big deal, too. Bredeson started the first seven games at left guard before going on IR with a knee injury. In his absence, New York’s rotated three players at left guard, including Joshua Ezedu vs Seattle, Shane Lemieux vs Detroit and Jack Anderson vs the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.

Jefferson was a late add for the Giants, but he adds depth to a secondary that’s currently without  centerpieces Adoree Jackson and Xavier McKinney.

Sorry, Commanders fans, but the list isn’t over.

The G-Men could also return tight end Daniel Bellinger, who’s been out the last four games with a fractured eye socket suffered in Week 7.

Like Bellinger and Bredeson, rookie right tackle Evan Neal’s been shelved since Week 7 with an MCL injury. After logging three limited practices in Week 11 and two more in Week 12 (short week vs Dallas on Thursday), the No. 7 overall pick is trending in the direction of suiting up on Sunday.

And finally, the Giants could get center Jon Feliciano (neck) and old friend Fabian Moreau (oblique), a former third-round pick of Washington in 2017, back for the game. While Jackson and McKinney remain out, this cavalcade of reinforcements will undoubtedly give Daboll’s team an uptick in confidence heading into Sunday.