Dexter Lawrence doesn’t need crutches, so his healthy teammates won’t use them, either. 

The Giants placed their best player on injured reserve Monday, essentially ending the season for Lawrence (elbow), considering that he won’t be eligible to return until a meaningless season finale at the earliest. 

“The reality of it is we’re going to miss him,” edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux said. “But this is going to be a great test and a great evaluation on everybody around him — the back end, the front end. 

“We kind of joked about it as, ‘Dex can’t be the crutch. Dex can’t be our excuse on why we’re playing well or why we’re not playing well.’ We all kind of have to each step up to the plate, knowing that one of our top guys isn’t there anymore.” 

Lawrence has a team-high nine sacks — none in the last five games, however — and is the main reason that the NFL’s worst-ranked rushing defense (allowing 5.1 yards per carry) isn’t worse.

He is the league’s No. 1-ranked interior defender against the run, according to Pro Football Focus. 

“He’s been having a tremendous season,” Lawrence’s best friend and former Giants teammate Leonard Williams said after leading the Seahawks past the Jets. “I don’t know many guys who can do what he can do in this league. Sad to see him dislocate his elbow. Sending him my wishes and prayers.” 

The Giants are playing without three of their five captains: Lawrence, left tackle Andrew Thomas (season-ending foot injury) and former quarterback Daniel Jones (released and now with the Vikings).

Lawrence is leading all NFL defensive tackles in fan voting for the Pro Bowl. 

“Obviously, he is our rock in the middle there,” linebacker Micah McFadden said. “Not only on the field, but he’s our captain and our leader off the field. He’s a voice within our locker room. 

“It’s a big blow to us. It’s difficult when you don’t have that caliber of a player on the field. He’s going to make sure that ‘A’ gap [between the center and guard] is closed every time he’s in there.” 

With no starting quarterback named for Sunday’s game against the Saints, Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock both threw to receivers during Monday’s on-field work, receiver Darius Slayton said. 

“We’ll see, I guess, later in the week, whatever decision they make,” Slayton said. 

TE Theo Johnson (foot) also went on injured reserve, ending his rookie season. He is fourth on the team in receptions (29) and second in yards-per-catch 11.4) with 11 starts in 12 games. 

After finishing last game with two healthy defensive tackles — Rakeem Nunez-Roches (stinger) and D.J. Davidson (shoulder) were injured in addition to Lawrence — the Giants signed Cory Durden off of the Rams practice squad Monday to add depth to Elijah Chatman and Jordon Riley. 

Durden appeared in four games as an undrafted rookie last season but hasn’t played yet this season.