Darcy

Johnson

All will revert to injured reserve once they clear waivers. Darcy suffered a partial tear of his ACL and will undergo surgery to repair it.

He’d been battling rookie Kevin Boss, who is out with a shoulder contusion, for the backup position in New York. Johnson is now likely done for the year.

Boss, 24, caught only nine balls for 118 yards and two TDs as a rookie last year, but has the athleticism and size to be a three-down player. It will likely take Boss a year to develop into a starting fantasy TE, but he can be drafted as a high-upside backup. He should get better as the season progresses. Darcy Johnson and Michael Matthews figure to battle for backup duty.

Don’t start the Kevin Boss hype machine just yet. The Giants are high on Darcy Johnson, who like Boss bulked up this spring, and Michael Matthews is a potent blocker. Boss is the heavy favorite, but his lack of blocking skills could mean limited snaps and upside in fantasy leagues.

Johnson fumbled on his lone reception after taking a hard hit from Brian Dawkins. The Giants’ backup tight end was sent to the locker-room for X-rays. He returned to the game in the third quarter.

Johnson was never on the injury report, but he apparently hurt the shoulder in Week 4 and then aggravated the injury on Thanksgiving. Johnson, the team’s No. 3 tight end, will have to battle for a roster spot as a blocker next season.

They’re definitely trading Jeremy Shockey now. Johnson, who goes 6'5, is reportedly up to 270 lbs. He’ll vie with Michael Matthews to make the club.

Johnson actually out-produced TE Kevin Boss, who finished with no catches for no yards. Boss was targeted deep in the first quarter, but QB Eli Manning sailed the ball too long.

Johnson, 27, has just nine career catches in four seasons. The Rams are scary-thin at tight end, however, so he has a decent shot to make the team.

Johnson thus becomes an unrestricted free agent. He was reportedly ineligible for a tender for undisclosed reasons. New York will move forward with 2009 third-round pick Travis Beckum as the backup for every-down TE Kevin Boss.