New York Giants

Giants' defense takes another hit: Hankins out with a torn pec

Published Nov. 8, 2015 5:31 p.m. ET

foxsports

After placing defensive captain and middle linebacker Jon Beason on injured reserve earlier this week, the Giants may have to do the same thing with defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins. The veteran defensive tackle left the first quarter of the Giants' Week 9 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Giants have confirmed he has a torn pectoral muscle.

Hankins is not the first Giant to tear his pectoral muscle in 2015. Left tackle Will Beatty suffered the same injury back in May, and he has still not played this season. Hankins is almost certainly out for the remainder of the 2015 season.

For those who don't watch the Giants closely, this is a significant injury. https://t.co/zQl82TvbhZ
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 8, 2015

Hankins is arguably the Giants' best remaining defensive player. In 2014, he was named Pro Football Focus' 69th-best player overall, topping all other Giants defenders in their rankings.

Entering Week 9, the New York Giants' defense was on pace to allow the second-most total offensive yards in NFL history, and injuries have played a key role in that. Things could get worse going forward without Beason and Hankins.