Giants Place DT Jay Alford on Injured Reserve: As feared, DT/LS Jay Alford’s season is over before it started. Alford was placed on Injured Reserve yesterday, officially ending his season. He underwent surgery yesterday to repair ligament damage to his MCL and ACL in his left knee. Alford suffered the injury in the preseason game against the Bears on August 22.
“He really had a good spring and good fall and it is a shame that a good guy that works his tail off like that has to have his season taken away,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “But by the same token it is an experience that he is going to have to go through and a learning experience. I’m hoping that his morale comes back up. And the challenge, obviously, as with all guys – all players that have to go through this – is in the rehab. I’m sure based on the way he dedicated himself last winter he will be very, very serious about his rehabilitative work.”
“That’s a blow to our team,” Coughlin said. “That’s a guy that had played well and had served evidence that he was going to play well.”
Cut Down to 53 Today: The Giants must cut down their roster to 53 by 6:00PM today. In total, the Giants will have to make 20 roster moves, not 22, because the team already placed DT Jay Alford on Injured Reserve and LB Michael Boley is suspended from playing in Week 1 against the Redskins.
Injury Report: Head Coach Tom Coughlin yesterday provided an injury update on a few players who played and did not play against the Patriots:
- CB Terrell Thomas (neck) and WR Hakeem Nicks (hip): “They seemed to be fine.”
- OC Adam Koets (ankle): “He does have an ankle sprain but we are just going to have to see – just take it day by day and how fast he can make it back is obviously very important for our practice week. We are holding out that hopefully these next two days we are going to see some real good improvement.”
- DT/DE Chris Canty (hamtring), Kenny Phillips (knee), and Aaron Ross (hamstring): “Actually I really don’t have a lot of new information. I know they are making good progress. I know we expect to see more – we expect to see Kenny back on the practice field. We expect to be doing more with Canty. And I really don’t know what to tell you about Ross. I don’t have any new information in front of me.”
- HB Danny Ware (ribs): “Danny ran with the conditioning group today so we will see.”
Articles on QBs Andre’ Woodson and Rhett Bomar:
- As Final Cuts Loom, NY Giants Quarterback Andre’ Woodson Ponders His Future by Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger
- Giants’ Backup QBs Nervously Await Cutdown Day by Tom Rock of Newsday
Quotes: Head Coach Tom Coughlin on LT William Beatty: “He did a good job (against the Patriots). He had some plays that weren’t as good as others. But I would say overall it was a very solid performance for Will in a situation. And the good thing about it was he knew that he was going to start the game and be in there right from the get-go. Eli was in the game and he had to definitely prepare himself properly. He knew that there was a lot of responsibility on his shoulders and I would say – which may not be surprising – but for a young guy of the four games that was his best game…He has toughness….You notice the athleticism right away – the good feet and all of that stuff. And so progress is being made.”