Will New York Giants OL Jermaine Eluemunor play vs. New Orleans Saints?

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Will New York Giants OL Jermaine Eluemunor play vs. New Orleans Saints?

Will New York Giants OL Jermaine Eluemunor play vs. Houston Texans?

Dan Benton, Giants Wire · Giants Wire

Sun, Oct 18, 2026 ·

2 min read

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The New York Giants will host the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday afternoon in Week 6, where they will look to win their fourth straight at home and remain in control of the NFC East.

However, they will be short a few players. Cornerback Colton Hood, safety Tyler Nubin, and tight end Theo Johnson have all been ruled out, and the status of three other starters is questionable.

Left tackle Andrew Thomas and linebacker Abdul Carter are likely to play despite missing two practices this week, but there is a larger concern with right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor.

Jermaine Eluemunor injury update

Eluemunor left a Week 5 game against the Washington Commanders with a calf injury and was swiftly ruled out. Initially, expectations were that it would be a week-to-week injury after his MRI results returned, but the team became more optimistic as the week wore on.

After describing what he felt as a "pop," it seemed unlikely Eluemunor would make a quick rebound, but his prayers may have been answered.

Eluemunor missed the first two practices of the week but returned on Friday in a limited role, ultimately earning a questionable designation for Sunday's game.

Will Jermaine Eluemunor play vs. Saints?

The Giants did not change Eluemunor's injury status on Saturday, leaving room for the possibility of him suiting up against New Orleans. He is very likely to be a literal game-time decision.

Head coach John Harbaugh wasn't exactly transparent when asked about Eluemunor and Thomas on Friday.

"They were basically full go," he told reporters. "They did well. I mean, they did fine. They practiced."

It's worth noting that several beat reporters feel optimistic about his chances.

The Giants will officially release their inactives 90 minutes before kickoff.

Who would replace Jermaine Eluemunor in the lineup?

If Eluemunor isn't able to play on Sunday, the Giants will turn to second-year swing tackle Marcus Mbow, who stepped in at right tackle against the Commanders.

Spelling Eluemunor last week, Mbow was imperfect but efficient. There was a highlight play of him getting beaten by Daron Payne, and that understandably drew most of the attention. But overall, he held his own and helped protect quarterback Jameis Winston. And while there is a need for improvement, Mbow represents a solid backup option for the Giants.

There is ongoing debate about whether Mbow should be moved inside, but that's a topic of conversation for another day. If Eluemunor is out, he will slide into the right tackle role.

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New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders: Best photos from Week 5

Oct 11, 2026; Landover, Maryland, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) catches a touchdown pass as Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil (0) defends during the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

(Geoff Burke, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)