Giants to shift Nick Gates to guard, play newly acquired Billy Price at center vs. Washington

The Giants are making an offensive line shift ahead of their Thursday Night matchup with the Washington Football Team. 

The always-versatile Nick Gates will be shifting to left guard after it was announced Shane Lemieux has gone to the IR on Thursday. He will be out an extended period, so Gates may be finding a temporary home at guard for the time being. 

And filling Gates' role at center will be Billy Price, whom the Giants traded for at the end of the training camp, sending B.J. Hill to the Cincinnati Bengals for the former first-rounder. 

The Giants realized they needed better O-line depth and went after Price, though he didn't have the best of times as a Bengal. He was taken 21st overall in the 2018 draft, but he hasn't panned out in the league yet. 

In 2020, Pro Football Focus had a 29.4 pass-block grade (138 snaps) for him along with a 68.2 run-block grade (70 snaps).

And while those numbers aren't too pleasant, Price has to go against Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne up the middle for Washington's defensive line... in his first game as a Giant.

So, while that is a tough task to handle, the Giants really have no choice but to shake things up. Price will be thrown right into the fire. 

Center Matt Skura was also activated to the active roster from the practice squad to create more depth at the position.