Giants fans got a jolt they didn’t need when Francis “Sisi” Mauigoa had to leave joint practice with the Miami Dolphins.
Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reported that the rookie offensive lineman, who is starting at right guard, exited after taking his shoulder pads off. For a few tense moments, it looked like the kind of setback that can wreck a summer and send a fan base spiraling.
Then came the relief. Mauigoa’s issue was reported to be heat-related, the kind of thing that can happen in brutal Miami humidity, and not something more serious. He later walked back out with the medical staff near the end of practice.
That was enough to turn a potential disaster into a brief scare.
Losing Mauigoa for any stretch would have been a huge blow for the Giants, especially with the 21-year-old already looking like a strong fit for the new-look offense head coach John Harbaugh is trying to put in place. At 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, he brings the kind of size and power that lets him stop bull rushes in their tracks and handle interior pressure without getting moved around.
He’s still adjusting after moving from right tackle to right guard, but the early signs have been encouraging.
In his first preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, Mauigoa played 30 snaps and earned a 66.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. His 73.5 pass-blocking grade was better than his 62.7 run-blocking mark, but he didn’t give up a pressure and wasn’t flagged once. For a young lineman still learning the position, that’s a solid start.
His next shot comes Saturday, when the Giants face the Dolphins in preseason Game 2.
For now, New York can exhale. Mauigoa looks fine, the starting offensive line stays together, and the Giants’ big summer lineman gets another chance to keep building momentum.
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