Elijah Chatman has chance to be a Giants bright spot
These are the small things left for Giants fans to watch as they close out their season.
The injuries decimating the roster have opened the door for players further down the depth chart to make a name for themselves and stake their claims as part of this team’s future.
Perhaps, if nothing else, these remaining five games can uncover potential contributors for the team going forward.
Undrafted rookie defensive lineman Elijah Chatman is perhaps the most notable case.
Dexter Lawrence is out for the rest of the year with a dislocated elbow.
Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck/shoulder) is out for Sunday’s game against the Saints while D.J. Davidson (shoulder) is doubtful and Jordon Riley (knee) is questionable.
Chatman likely will get a chance to start with significant playing time.
“Once you play in a few games, you start to not feel like a rookie anymore,” Chatman told The Post. “And the vets and the coaches start to not treat you like a rookie. I don’t really feel like a rookie.”
Chatman has started one game but appeared in all 12 this year, playing 28 percent of the team’s snaps on defense and seven percent of the snaps on special teams.
He has recorded one sack, 10 total tackles and one tackle for loss.
“He’s gotten better every single week,” defensive line coach Andre Patterson said. “Like it is with every rookie player, it’s trying to convince them to be themselves on every play. Sometimes, they outsmart themselves. They see other guys do things on film and go ‘I want to try to do that.’ Well, that’s not you. You got to continue to be you.”
So what is the “you” that Patterson wants to see from Chatman?
“Explosive, powerful and quick,” Patterson said. “Sometimes, he just gets into the being explosive and powerful and leaves the quick part out of it. He needs all three of those elements to be the player he can be. … I don’t need anyone to try to be Dexter Lawrence. They can’t. There’s only one of him.”
Chatman received some praise during the preseason. During the Giants’ preseason game against the Texans, he chased down running back J.J. Taylor on a long run, showing off his unique speed for a defensive lineman.
“He’s been in there primarily for us on passing situations, third down,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said. “He’s been able to be coordinated and run some games, do some different things with [outside linebacker Brian] Burns and been able to get some push in the pocket for us. He’s a powerful, explosive kid. So, when he’s able to get out of his stance and get going, he’s got some length to him despite being a little bit shorter.”
