Arvell Reese doesn’t need a flashy stat line to make his point on Monday night. For the Giants rookie linebacker, just flashing enough against Matthew Stafford and the Rams would go a long way toward showing that New York’s defensive overhaul can actually travel.
Reese is hardly a stranger to the bright lights. He spent his college career at Ohio State, where the national audience was part of the routine, and he already logged his NFL debut on “Sunday Night Football” last weekend. Now comes another prime-time test, this one against Stafford and a Rams offense that will bring plenty of attention of its own.
Most of the pregame conversation has centered on Aaron Donald, who has all but confirmed he’ll play in his first game since 2023. That matters, of course. But Reese deserves his own spotlight after a Week 1 debut that gave New York a little more to believe in.
The box score was modest: five tackles, including one for a loss. Yet for a player still adjusting from edge rusher to interior linebacker, that was a solid start, especially against a Cowboys offense that was supposed to provide a much stiffer challenge. Instead, the Giants’ defense came out swinging and held Dallas to 244 total yards in a stunning upset.
That’s the backdrop for Reese’s next chance. He’s not being handed Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after one game, and nobody is promising a sack on Monday night. But if he can help make Stafford uncomfortable, it would be another sign that this group is more than just a Week 1 headline.
The Rams have been tough to get to lately. Since the start of 2023, they’ve allowed only 81 sacks, a number that speaks to how well they’ve protected Stafford. In Week 1, their line kept him upright entirely in a loss to the 49ers, even if the payoff was just 155 passing yards and no touchdown.
New York’s own defense, meanwhile, showed real bite against Dallas. Dennard Wilson’s group played aggressively and took advantage of a Cowboys line that was missing standout left guard Tyler Smith. The Rams don’t carry any offensive linemen on Friday’s injury report, though All-Pro receiver Puka Nacua did not practice because of a hip injury.
Reese also comes into this matchup carrying the noise that followed him all offseason. Plenty of critics questioned why the Giants took him at No. 5 instead of Ohio State teammate Sonny Styles, and Malik Nabers even called out the selection during a draft night live stream. The twist, of course, was that Wilson and John Harbaugh planned all along to move Reese to interior linebacker.
Now the rookie gets another chance to show why that move made sense.
In Other News...
Giants Just Found A Week 2 Path The Rams May Not Handle
The Rams came out of Week 1 with more questions than answers on defense after San Francisco picked apart their nickel looks and leaned on short passes to keep the pressure steady. For the Giants, that kind of blueprint looks awfully familiar after their win over Dallas, where the offense leaned into a conservative passing approach and made the most of matchups that asked the Cowboys to defend in space.
If New York wants a chance to keep that formula working in Week 2, the key will be staying patient on third down and forcing Los Angeles into the kinds of personnel decisions it struggled with a week ago. The matchup sets up as less about flashy throws and more about whether the Giants can keep strings of drives alive against a defense that already showed cracks in the same areas the Giants are likely to test. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Catch A Break As Rams Face A Huge Offensive Concern
The Rams are heading into Monday Night Football with a lingering concern at wide receiver, as Puka Nacua did not practice Friday or Saturday because of a hip injury and is listed as questionable against the Giants. For a Los Angeles offense trying to rebound from a Week 1 loss, any uncertainty around one of its top playmakers adds another layer of pressure before a cross-country test in prime time.
Sean McVays team is already dealing with a defense that has its own mix of absence and relief, with Myles Garrett on injured reserve for an extended stretch and Aaron Donald expected back. For the Giants, the situation is worth watching closely because any disruption to Nacua's availability could change how the Rams attack and how much room New York has to dictate the games tempo. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Rookie Colton Hood Suddenly Faces A Serious Monday Night Test
The Giants have been able to bring rookie cornerback Colton Hood along slowly, thanks to a deeper mix of options at the position than they had in some recent stretches. That patience may not last much longer. With Paulson Adebo, Deonte Banks and Greg Newsome all dealing with injuries, Hood could be pushed into a much larger role when New York meets the Rams on Monday night.
For a young defensive back, this is the kind of snap count jump that can change the conversation quickly. Hood has not had to carry a heavy load yet, but if his playing time spikes against Los Angeles, the Giants will get a better read on whether he can grow into a long-term piece in their secondary. It is one thing to flash in limited duty, and another to hold up when the spotlight and the workload arrive at the same time. [Read more 🡒]