The New York Giants placed defensive lineman Chauncey Golston on injured reserve Saturday after a neck injury forced him from the lineup.
The 28-year-old left the team’s Week 4 victory over the Arizona Cardinals and did not return, later missing all practices ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Washington Commanders, for which he was ruled out.
Head coach John Harbaugh indicated the absence could stretch longer term, describing the injury as serious enough to warrant second opinions and an extended recovery.
Golston, a 6-foot-5, 277-pound player born in Detroit on February 10, 1998, developed into a productive college defender at Iowa.
A two-year starter for the Hawkeyes, he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2020 after posting strong production across multiple seasons, including double-digit sacks and consistent pressure as both a reserve and starter.
The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft with the 84th overall pick.
With the Cowboys, Golston evolved from a rotational piece into a more prominent contributor. He appeared in 64 games over four seasons, accumulating roughly 135 tackles and nine sacks while showing versatility along the defensive line.
His strongest campaign came in 2024, when he started 13 of 17 games and recorded career highs of 56 tackles, 5.5 sacks, five passes defensed, and his first interception.
After completing his rookie contract, he reached free agency for the first time and signed a three-year, $18 million deal with the Giants in March 2025 that included $12 million in guarantees.
His first season in New York proved limited. Golston played in 10 games with one start, totaling about 20 tackles and one sack while dealing with ankle and neck issues that cost him significant time.
In 2026, he had been more available through the early weeks, appearing in all four of the Giants’ games, starting some of them, and recording around a dozen tackles as part of the interior and edge rotation.
The Giants also restructured his contract in early October, converting roughly $3.36 million of his base salary into a signing bonus to create about $1.68 million in salary-cap space.
The move to injured reserve marks another setback for a veteran who has offered size, experience, and positional flexibility since arriving in New York.
While the exact timeline for his return remains unclear, the designation ensures he will miss at least the next four games as he works through the neck injury sustained against Arizona.
