NFL

Giants lose punt returner to freak locker room injury

You cannot make it up.

With one game remaining in the season, rookie receiver and punt returner Jawill Davis was placed on injured reserve — not a common occurrence with only one game remaining. The way Davis got hurt was anything but common.

A source indicated Davis hurt his knee while horseplaying in the locker room Saturday. According to NFL Network, Davis was dancing in the locker room and suffered a partially dislocated patella. Clearly, Davis would not be ready to play in Sunday’s game against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium and he was put on IR.

Davis, who made the team as an undrafted free agent from Bethune-Cookman, averaged 7.4 yards on 12 punt returns. He caught four passes for 40 yards. He was replaced on the roster by rookie receiver Alonzo Russell, who was signed off the practice squad.

With Davis unavailable as a punt returner, Corey Coleman could add that to his duties, along with kickoff returns. The Giants could also use Sterling Shepard on punt returns.

Across town, the Jets also lost a player to a freak injury. Tight end Eric Tomlinson needed surgery after dropping a weight on his foot during a post-practice workout Wednesday and lacerating two toes. He was placed on injured reserved and will miss Sunday’s game against the Patriots.