Tyrone Tracy Jr. made one mistake in the New York Giants’ preseason opener, but Breiden Fehoko believes it was the kind that can become expensive quickly.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle ripped Tracy after the running back missed a protection assignment that left Jaxson Dart exposed to a crushing hit against the Minnesota Vikings. Dart was forced to go to the medical tent afterward, adding concern around a quarterback who dealt with repeated evaluations as a rookie.
Breiden Fehoko Blasts Giants’ Tyrone Tracy Jr.
“This is how you get your franchise quarterback killed and more importantly find yourself looking for work,” Fehokowrote on X. “In the words of the great Mike Tomlin ‘get that [expletive] off your tape sir yesterday.’”
The play came late in the first quarter of Saturday’s 13-10 preseason loss. Vikings safety Jay Ward came free off the edge after Tracy failed to pick him up, giving Ward a clean path to Dart.
Fehoko went further during his breakdown, explaining that Tracy needed to scan inside before checking for an outside blitzer.
“Tyrone Tracy, if you want to get cut, this is the way to do it,” Fehoko said. “Kill your franchise quarterback.”
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Dart stayed down briefly and was evaluated for a concussion before being cleared. He returned and soon threw a touchdown pass to Malachi Fields from 15 yards out. The Giants said Dart had the wind knocked out of him, and no concussion was diagnosed.
Head coach John Harbaugh was not pleased with the protection breakdown either. Asked about the hit after the game, Harbaugh said, “We need to block better.”
Giants’ Backfield Gives Tracy Little Margin for Error
One missed assignment is not going to decide Tracy’s future, but the Giants have enough backfield depth to make mistakes more costly.
Cam Skattebo returned from his serious ankle injury in the preseason opener, while veteran Devin Singletary remains part of the rotation. New York also brought another option on board by signing Najee Harris on Tuesday, raising questions about where Tracy fits in the grand scheme of things.
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Tracy still brings proven production. He rushed for 740 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games last season while adding 36 catches for 288 yards and two receiving scores. PFN’sRB Impact metric gave him a 72.5 score, ranking 33rd among qualifying running backs.
His work in protection matters just as much as a box score on plays like Saturday’s.
New York has invested heavily in Dart as its franchise quarterback, and his rookie season included a diagnosed concussion that cost him two games and several other medical evaluations.
Fehoko knows the other side of the protection battle from his NFL career, which included time with the Los Angeles Chargers and Steelers. His criticism was theatrical, but the football point was straightforward.
A running back can earn touches by creating yards. Missing the player who has a free run at the quarterback is a much faster way to lose them.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.