Presented with only two options about how he anticipates feeling shortly before 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday — choked up or amped enough to run through a brick wall? — Micah McFadden laughed.
“I don’t think it will be emotional,” McFadden said. “I think it will be the second one.”
McFadden returns to the field for the Giants against the Vikings after suffering a season-ending Lisfranc foot injury in the first quarter of Week 1 last season.
It’s safe to say this moment is a long time coming.
“I was thinking about it recently, it’s almost a year since that happened,” McFadden said. “I’m excited, feeling ready to go play. Foot feels good moving around out there. Just getting a hold of the defense and learning all the nuance to it. Trying to learn all the positions and just understand it holistically so I can play fast.”
McFadden, a two-year starting inside linebacker, only logged 12 plays in his contract walk year.
He re-signed a one-year, $3.75 million prove-it free agent deal and then lost his starting job when the Giants drafted first-rounder Arvell Reese to pair with free agent addition Tremaine Edmunds.
“At this point, it’s just control the controllables,” McFadden said, “and be ready when the opportunity is called.”
McFadden isn’t starting from scratch because new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s system contains similar terminology and responsibility to what he was drafted into for Wink Martindale (2022-23).
“It’s a sense of security knowing that I have three guys I can put out there and we can play at a high level,” linebackers coach Frank Bush said.
“Micah is a pro’s pro. When he’s out there, there are certain things we do that he’s an example for the rest of the guys in the room [because] he does it right and I can use that film as teaching film. To his credit, he’s embraced his role, he’s making plays and he’s putting pressure on us to put him out there. It looks like he’s fully back.”
If the starters play, others like McFadden who will be returning from a season-ending injury include OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux, S Tyler Nubin, LT Andrew Thomas, RB Cam Skattebo, CB Nic Jones, OG Evan Neal, OT Josh Ezedu and TE Thomas Fidone.
WR Malik Nabers (knee) and C John Michael Schmitz (concussion suffered in training camp) are unlikely to return just yet.
Because center Lucas Patrick (knee) has been limited in practice, the Giants could start third-stringer Bryan Hudson and ask him to play most of the game.
Backup LT Marcus Mbow snapped in one OTA but is more comfortable on the edge right now.
“We have to see the game through one set of eyes and it’s always going to be the center’s eyes,” offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren said. “If I can get a smart prick to play that position, I’m going to be really happy. We’ve got those guys at that position right now.”
