Kenny Golladay downplays injury-prone label as he hopes for Giants return

Kenny Golladay doesn’t buy the narrative he is injury-prone. 

The best way for him to change perception is by returning Sunday against the Raiders and staying healthy for the final nine games of the Giants’ season. Is he ready to take the first step after returning from a three-game absence for two days of limited practice? 

“I would like to,” said Golladay, who is listed as questionable on the injury report. “It depends how my body responds from a couple days back-to-back. I think we’re all just being smart about it right now. Definitely avoided something very serious. Just making sure I’m not trying to go out there and push it and make something worse.” 

Golladay hyperextended his knee Oct. 10 in the first half against the Cowboys and “the amount of swelling I got in it kind of had me nervous a little bit.” The injury came on the heels of his season-best 116-yard performance against the Saints. 

“You never know how that game could have went,” Golladay said. “I did feel like I was starting to get into a groove a little bit. But that comes with the game.” 

Golladay should know the reality of injuries after he missed 17 games over four seasons with the Lions. The Giants conducted thorough research of his medical history, including last season’s hip injury, before signing him to a four-year, $72 million contract. 

After all, it is general manager Dave Gettleman’s long-standing belief that “hurt guys get hurt.” 

“I don’t really look too much into it,” Golladay said of the injury-prone label. 

Golladay led the NFL with 11 touchdown catches during his one full season in 2019. 

“I feel like I’ll be able to pick up where I left off,” he said, “but everybody else is still practicing, so hopefully I’m not steps behind, but got to see. It’s frustrating not being on the field because I know what I’m capable of doing, and I just want to prove that.” 

S Xavier McKinney and RB Saquon Barkley cleared COVID-19 protocols after it was determined through more precise testing that both players’ two positive rapid-test results earlier this week were false-positives. 

McKinney practiced, but Barkley (ankle) did not and he will miss a fourth straight game. Head coach Joe Judge isn’t sitting players on the fence this week because the bye next week offers double rest. Wins are needed ASAP. 

“Every game is important,” Judge said. “While there is a bye on the horizon, right now we’re focused on the Raiders. For all the players, it’s, ‘Can you get them healthy to the game where they can play, be productive and stay on the field?’”

In addition to Barkley, OLB Lorenzo Carter (ankle), DB Nate Ebner (ankle), WR Sterling Shepard (quad) and WR Dante Pettis (shoulder) are out. Pettis was placed on injured reserve. 

WR John Ross (quad) and RB Gary Brightwell (COVID-19 protocol) are questionable. WR Kadarius Toney (thumb) and TE Kaden Smith (knee) were limited in practice, but are expected to play. 

The Browns officially released WR Odell Beckham Jr. before Judge spoke to reporters Friday, but the former Giants star didn’t reach waivers until 4 p.m. It won’t be known if he was claimed until Monday. And Judge declined to assess Beckham’s skills during limbo. 

“We’re not going to comment on any player who’s on other rosters,” Judge said. “I’m not going to get into hypotheticals on that.”