Jarrad Davis’ season is over before it started.
The Giants placed the 28-year-old inside linebacker on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday, The Post confirmed, after he underwent knee surgery.
Davis was playing with the starting defense as the second inside linebacker during spring practices when the injury occurred.
Davis quickly made a strong impression on defensive coordinator Wink Martindale after joining the Giants during Week 17 of last season.
He went from idling on the Lions’ practice squad to starting the regular-season finale and both playoff games, accumulating 18 tackles and two quarterback hits.
That audition earned the former first-round draft pick and former Jets starter a one-year, $1.18 million contract to re-sign with the Giants in March.
Davis’ injury only further cements middle linebacker Bobby Okereke as arguably the most irreplaceable member of the defense. Inside linebacker was a black hole last season, and the Giants addressed it with the splash signing of Okereke (four years, $40 million) rather than with quantity.
Who fills Davis’ shoes? The top candidates are two 2022 draft picks — fifth-rounder Micah McFadden, who had 59 tackles and two sacks in 17 games and seven starts last season, and sixth-rounder Darrian Beavers.
Beavers was pushing then-starter Blake Martinez for playing time last training camp before he suffered a season-ending torn ACL.
He is awaiting his NFL debut.
The Giants also could turn to free agency for help.
Former Pro Bowler Deion Jones visited the facility in April and remains unsigned.
It is common practice during the first week of camp for a group of veterans across multiple positions to come for a tryout in front of the coaching staff and scouts.
The Giants also could spend a lot of time in their sub packages with one inside linebacker (Okereke) and extra defensive backs, using safeties as smaller, quicker options in the slot.
