The New York Giants held their OTA workout on Thursday. Something went terribly wrong during the team’s 11-on-11 drills.
A key defensive player went down while rushing the passer. He grabbed his right leg and then limped off. The news that followed was devastating for the team.
Defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris tore his Achilles tendon at that practice.
A source told ESPN’s Jordan Raanan about the injury. Robertson-Harris is expected to miss the entire 2026 NFL season.
Giants defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris tore his Achilles at Thursday’s OTA workout and is expected to miss the 2026 season, a source told @JordanRaanan. https://t.co/pi5MnTslKI
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 22, 2026
This is a significant blow for the Giants defense. He started all 17 games in 2025 and recorded 35 tackles. He signed a 2-year $10M contract with New York in March 2025.
The 2026 season was the final year of that contract. His 2026 salary cap hit was set at $5.5M. The Giants traded defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence this offseason.
Losing Robertson-Harris has made the defensive front much thinner. The team must find help from within or explore outside options.
This is the second Achilles tear for the Giants this month. Rookie cornerback Thaddeus Dixon tore his Achilles tendon on May 13. Two season-ending injuries in one month raise serious concerns.
Robertson-Harris has 9 accrued NFL seasons under his belt. He played college football at UTEP before entering the league. The veteran brought a steady presence to the Giants defense.
New York now faces a critical gap on the defensive line. Their depth chart looks very different from what it was a few weeks ago. Replacing his production will not be easy this season.
Head coach John Harbaugh must quickly adjust his defensive plans. The Giants offseason program continues amid these injury setbacks. Finding depth is New York’s top priority.
The Giants will need younger players to step up immediately. Training camp will be critical for evaluating roster options. The 2026 season opens with real uncertainty on defense.
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