Sean Locklear will be the man responsible for protecting Giants quarterback Eli Manning from Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware on Wednesday night.
Locklear will start at left tackle for the Giants against the Cowboys in the regular-season opener, according to the Star-Ledger.
That news comes as something of a surprise, as Will Beatty had been expected to be the starter at left tackle. Beatty is back at practice and feeling no pain after missing time with a back injury, but the Giants have apparently decided that Locklear is a better option. Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said the team thought about moving right tackle David Diehl to left tackle, but thought Locklear was a better choice.
“We did, we did. Very much so,” Gilbride said. “But right now, Sean is playing very well, so he’s been really as good as anybody we’ve had.”
Locklear will have to be as good as anybody the Giants have had on Wednesday night, when he’s protecting Manning’s blind side from as good a pass rusher as there is in the NFL.