Giants rookie faces big test against Rams star Aaron Donald
Sisi Mauigoa’s perfect start to his NFL career is about to meet a Hall of Fame challenge.
The rookie guard, whom the Giants drafted with the No. 10 pick, is likely to see plenty of Aaron Donald during their “Monday Night Football” game against the Rams in Los Angeles.
Donald, the superstar defensive tackle, came out of retirement to rejoin the Rams this year and is likely to make his season debut after missing the team’s Week 1 loss to the 49ers in Australia.
“Sisi is a strong dude, too,” Giants offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren said. “He’s not your average rookie.”
Mauigoa was pretty much flawless in Week 1, allowing no pressures and no QB hits on 36 pass blocks, according to Next Gen Stats.
He became the first rookie since 2018 to record 35-plus pass blocking snaps in Week 1 without allowing a pressure.
But Donald, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and eight-time First Team All-Pro, would be a major step up for Mauigoa in his second game, even if Donald — who said “that’s the overall plan” when asked if he’ll be playing Monday — would be playing his first game in 2 ¹/₂ years.
“As long as he keeps his poise and uses his technique, he’s gonna give himself his best chance,” Bloomgren said. “And that’s all we want. We want to make sure he’s able to get his hands where he wants them, understanding how to set in those certain situations. Get his hands on him.
“We know how good the ability is and we know he’s on the roster. We’re gonna be prepared for him.”
After weeks of speculation, Donald, 35, officially came out of retirement and signed with the Rams late last month on a one-year, $30 million deal. He missed most of training camp and has been ramping up, which is why he missed the Rams opener.
“I’m feeling really good,” Donald said. “I feel a lot better now that I’ve got more practices under my belt instead of one. So, I’m kind of getting in the groove of things.”
Head coach John Harbaugh thinks Malik Nabers is getting close to being able to handle a full workload.
“It’s a question we’re asking ourselves, in all honesty,” Harbaugh said. “I think it comes back to what he’s capable of handling. He had a good workload [Friday] again, so as he’s ramping up his volume in practice, which would be bringing him closer to that kind of mindset in the games, we’ll see as we get through the games. He looks strong. He does.”
CB Deonte Banks (calf) did not practice for the second straight day Saturday, though he is optimistically listed as questionable for Monday’s game.
Banks dealt with cramps in the Week 1 win over the Cowboys and has trended in the wrong direction — he was a limited participant Thursday and did not practice Friday or Saturday.
The cornerback unit is already thin after Paulson Adebo (knee) was placed on injured reserve Friday.
Rams star receiver Puka Nacua (hip) did not practice for the second straight day and is listed as questionable.