Evan Neal’s rehab from a sprained ankle wasn’t going according to plan, and now the Giants know why.
A CT scan revealed that Neal fractured a small bone in his left ankle, a source confirmed to The Post, and that was the impetus for shutting down the former first-round draft pick by placing him on injured reserve.
He is headed for surgery after a second straight disappointing season to begin his career.
“He works hard. He does what we ask him to do,” offensive line coach Bobby Johnson said. “There’s things where people want to rush to judgment, and I think he just needs more opportunities to show a bigger body of work to be evaluated.”
Neal was seen walking around the facility Friday with no crutches or assistance.
Surgery could further muddy his future standing — is he still an unquestioned starter? — entering the roster-building phase of the offseason.
“Any personnel stuff, we evaluate after the season,” Johnson said. “That’s an ever-changing picture just because of all the things that happen between the end of the season and the beginning of training camp. I can’t really say any of that. Don’t know. There are so many unanswered pieces to the puzzle.”
The Giants have allowed a league-high and franchise-record 77 sacks.
So, does Johnson expect to be retained in the offseason?
“Do you expect me to be back?” Johnson asked reporters rhetorically. “I don’t think about it. I think about what we have to do this weekend against the Rams. I just try to do my job every day.”
Johnson said his conversations with head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are about “playing the next game.”
CB Corey Webster, who last played in 2013, held a retirement ceremony Friday at the facility. A second-round pick in 2005, Webster spent his entire nine-year career with the Giants and won two Super Bowls as a starter before injuries in his contract year accelerated his ending.
“It’s been a long time overdue,” said Webster, who was surrounded by his children he is raising to be Giants fans. “It’s a new start for me going forward. Putting some closure to my New York Giants’ tenure. I just wanted to say thank you to the organization.”
Webster’s name is synonymous with one of the biggest plays in Giants’ postseason history — the overtime interception in the 2007 NFC Championship game that set up a field goal to punch a ticket to Super Bowl XLII, where they beat the Patriots.
It was Brett Favre’s final pass with the Packers.
The ball remains with Army Lt. Col. Greg Gadson, who became intertwined with the 2007 Giants after inspiring the team during a meeting after their 0-2 start.
Gadson was only a few months removed from losing both his legs during an explosion in Iraq.
“Lt. Col. Greg Gadson … always offers to give it back, but he was a motivational speaker and a big part of what we were doing that year,” Webster said. “Just to be able to accomplish that and know that people always point to it … that’s enough for me.”
WR Wan’Dale Robinson (quad) — who leads the Giants in receptions — and rookie CB Deonte Banks (shoulder) — who has emerged as the top coverage option — both are listed as questionable on the injury report. TE Lawrence Cager (groin) is considered doubtful.
All three were limited in Friday’s practice.
Puka Nacua, who leads all rookie receivers in yards, is one of four Rams listed as questionable.