Giants TEs Evan Engram, Rhett Ellison Ruled Out Against Bears

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When the Giants march into Soldier Field on Sunday, they'll do so with a depleted tight end unit. 

Evan Engram and Rhett Ellison have both been ruled out of the Week 12 contest against the Bears. Engram suffered a mid-foot sprain against the Cowboys on Nov. 5 and was to be evaluated on a weekly basis.

He was hopeful to return following the team's bye week, missing just one game, and told reporters a return against the Bears is "definitely possible." Engram, however, is set to miss his third game of the season after he was absent from practice throughout the week. 

Giants head coach Pat Shurmur revealed Ellison, who sits behind Engram on the team's depth chart, isn't available either as he recovers from a concussion. 

Rhett Ellison and Evan Engram are Out for Giants vs. Bears. Sterling Shepard, Janoris Jenkins, and Nate Solder have not yet been cleared of the concussion protocol, which will be determined later today.

— New York Giants (@Giants) November 22, 2019

Ellison found himself in the concussion protocol following the Giants loss to the Jets on Nov. 10. The 31-year-old veteran appeared in each game entering Week 12, recording at least one reception. Ellison caught three passes for a season-high 42 yards before he was sidelined with the concussion. 

Where does quarterback Daniel Jones and the Giants offense go from here?

They'll face the struggling Bears, who lost five of their last six, without two of their most experienced tight ends. Sterling Shepard cleared concussion protocol and returns to the field for the first time since October. 

Scott Simonson and rookie Kaden Smith make up the other two tight ends on the Giants' roster. The Giants acquired Smith, a 49ers draft pick, off waivers in September. The Stanford University standout recorded 1,049 yards and seven touchdowns in his collegiate career. He caught one pass for one yard in his only appearance for Big Blue in 2019.

Simonson, however, will likely receive the starting nod, according to NJ Advance Media's Matt Lombardo. He spent the 2018 season with the Giants, where he tallied 86 yards on nine catches.