Giants LB Tremaine Edmunds (chest) out for year, source says

Edmunds' season ends with a torn chest muscle

Giants middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is out for the season, a source told ESPN, after tearing a muscle in his chest. That is why his name is suddenly everywhere today. He got hurt on one of the final plays of Sunday's 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints, and the team spent the week trying to figure out whether he could manage the injury. He wanted to play through it. The answer came back that he could not.

Edmunds signed a three year, 36 million dollar deal with the Giants this offseason, and the production backed it up early. Through six games he led the team with 50 tackles and was tied for the team lead with two sacks. He is 28 and had become one of the faces of this defense.

He wasn't the only linebacker lost

The Giants will also be without outside linebacker Chauncey Golston for the rest of the season, sources told ESPN. Golston went on injured reserve earlier this month with a neck injury. Two starters off the same defense, done for the year, inside the same stretch of news.

McFadden takes the green dot

Edmunds wore the green dot on defense, the helmet signal that lets one player talk to the sideline and make the calls. That job now shifts to Micah McFadden, who has started 36 games in his career and is expected to communicate directly with defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. Edmunds also sat on the team's leadership council, so the loss reaches past the depth chart.

Coach John Harbaugh had already signaled the move was coming. "I think I said early on we have three starters," Harbaugh said Friday. "So, when and if that happens, Micah is ready. He's a starter, and he'll play really well. He'll be excited for his opportunity." The Giants have said since summer they viewed Edmunds, Arvell Reese and McFadden as three starting caliber middle linebackers.

What else is in flux for Sunday

The Giants are 3-2-1 heading into Sunday against the Houston Texans, and the rest of the injury report carries some better news. Cornerback Paulson Adebo is expected back from a knee injury, with his window to return off injured reserve opened earlier this week. Starting tackles Andrew Thomas (groin) and Jermaine Eluemunor (calf) are both listed as questionable, but Harbaugh said Friday they should have a good chance to play.

Facts per ESPN. Opinion is the taproom's.