“Guarded area for many athletes” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.SHIN is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Guarded area for many athletes”. It was last seen in the puzzle of December 3, 2025, where it runs at 53 Down and fills 4 squares. It crosses 4 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have.