Humble Evan Neal is ready to take on any role the New York Giants need

Seven months after undergoing surgery to repair a broken ankle, offensive tackle Evan Neal returned to the field for the New York Giants.

Neal came off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Sunday and finally rejoined his teammates. However, Neal returned to somewhat unfamiliar and uncertain territory.

In his absence, veteran Jermaine Eluemunor has assumed the starting right tackle role and seems unlikely to relinquish it. That leaves Neal as an outsider, but he’s willing to take on whatever role the Giants need him to fill.

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“Whatever role the team puts me in, I’m going to accept it. So whether it’s a starter or not, I’m here to contribute to the team and I’m going to do everything I can to do that,” Neal told reporters.

“I am not owed anything and I cannot feel that I deserve anything. All I want is what I work for.”

For Neal, the past few months have been especially humiliating. He’s never lost so much time before, let alone after a misdiagnosis.

“I don’t have any hard feelings. The Giants training staff has done everything they can to help me get healthy,” Neal said. “I mean, things like that happen. It’s nobody’s fault.

“It was the first time I had an injury of that magnitude. The first time I had surgery. But at the end of the day, I’m prepared for it and I feel like I’ve come back stronger. So, if anything, I think it helped me.”

Neal will be easing into his comeback and was limited to singles matches on Sunday. He acknowledges there is outside pressure on him to perform, especially now that his job is on the line, but he intends to remain focused only on the things he can control.

“In this business, in this line of work, and especially in this city, the pressure is going to be there. But that’s not something I think about because it’s not something I believe in,” Neal said. “So, at the end of the day, I’m just going to focus on controlling what I can control, my attitude, how I approach the game, going out there and playing the best I can.”

If Neal’s comments on Sunday are any indication, it’s clear he’s in a different frame of mind and happy to be back. No one knows how things will play out from here, but the big man is going to give it his all.