INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Giants badly missed Deonte Banks.
Who would’ve thought that would be the case just two months ago?
After making four tackles and breaking up two passes in his Week 1 return to the starting lineup from the abyss of last season, Banks was inactive Monday night in the loss to the Rams due to a calf injury. It is the first obstacle in what has been a renaissance year for the 2023 first-round pick, who was benched, scratched and turned into a kickoff returner by the previous coaching staff.
With Banks sidelined, the Giants were without two of their top four cornerbacks (Paulson Adebo is on injured reserve) and were forced to start rookie second-round pick Colton Hood opposite banged-up but available Greg Newsome II.
And it showed as Davante Adams — even without his All-Pro sidekick Puka Nacua and fellow receiver Jordan Whittington — went off for eight catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns in the first three quarters. He beat Hood for a fade touchdown that put the game out of reach at 21-3.
Hood and rookie Arvell Reese were split for a touchdown catch by Kyren Williams.
Safety Jevón Holland tried to pick up the slack in the secondary with an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
LB Micah McFadden (neck), S Jason Pinnock, OT J.C. Davis, TE Thomas Fidone II, DT Darius Alexander and DT Bobby Jamison-Travis were also inactive. Alexander was a 2025 third-round pick.
RB Najee Harris made his Giants debut in the rare situation in which five running backs (Cam Skattebo, Harris, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary and fullback Patrick Ricard) were active.
Harris suffered a torn Achilles at SoFi Stadium last season while playing for the Chargers. He was stuffed on two carries inside the 10-yard line and finished with 6 rushing yards.
Abdul Carter notched the Giants’ first sack of the season after six blank quarters.
Brian Burns had the Giants’ only other quarterback hit.
The Rams reportedly offered two first-round picks to the Panthers to acquire Burns in 2022.
Burns said this week that he was “shocked” by the size of the Rams’ offer and by the Panthers turning it down as they worked through a tense contract negotiation. It would have changed the arc of his career, bringing him to the playoffs for the first time.
“I feel that I’d have been successful over there, but, yeah, it would change a little bit,” Burns told The Post’s Steve Serby. “When they turned it down, I was kind of happy. I didn’t want to leave my team.”
The Giants ultimately acquired Burns from the Panthers (and immediately signed him to a five-year, $141 million extension) for a second-round pick, a fifth-round pick and a fifth-round pick swap in March 2024.
Receiver and returner Braxton Berrios and ILB Malik Harrison were elevated from the practice squad for the second time in as many weeks. Both are eligible for one more elevation.
