Giants’ Xavier McKinney out at least four weeks with hand injury from ATV accident

A bye week accident is forcing Giants safety Xavier McKinney to say goodbye to the team’s next four games, at least.

McKinney said on Twitter Monday that he injured his hand while riding ATVs in Cabo during the team’s Week 9 bye. Then the Giants placed McKinney on their reserve/non-football injury list.

That means he won’t be eligible to play again until at least Dec. 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles. He will definitely miss games against the Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys (Thanksgiving) and Washington Commanders.

“I will do everything I can to get back as quickly as possible so I can contribute to what we’re building here in NY,” McKinney wrote.

The third-year safety is the team’s defensive play caller. He said the injury happened on “a guided sight-seeing tour.” He estimated he would only miss “a few weeks,” but the Giants ruled him out for at least four with the non-football injury designation.

The injury snaps McKinney’s NFL-high 1,424 consecutive snap streak for defensive players dating back to Week 3 of 2021, according to the NFL’s NextGenStats.

He was the only player to play all 506 snaps through eight games for Wink Martindale’s Giants defense this season.

Jaguars LB Foyesade Oluokun (978 consecutive snaps) now holds the longest streak among defensive players in the league.

Losing McKinney, a second round pick out of Alabama in 2020, is a major blow for Brian Daboll’s Giants (6-2).

They will host the lowly Houston Texans (1-6-1) at MetLife Stadium on Sunday coming off a loss to the Seahawks in Seattle prior to the bye.

It is possible safety Julian Love could take over defensive play calling duties in McKinney’s absence.

That would come after the Daily News’ report last week that the Giants and Love’s representatives have discussed a contract extension.

Meanwhile, the Giants also put defensive tackle Nick Williams (biceps) on injured reserve on Monday. He suffered the injury in the team’s Week 8 loss at Seattle. He’s been valuable on the interior, with 15 tackles and two passes defended.

Williams tore the biceps, per ESPN. That’s an injury that typically ends a player’s season.

In potential good news, the Giants designated left guard Shane Lemieux (foot/toe) for return from injured reserve, per the NFL transaction wire. That typically means the player has a 21-day window to be activated off IR.

It would be great to get Lemieux going with Ben Bredeson (knee) on IR. Rookie Josh Ezeudu has been starting in his place.